JUSTICE

Youth Justice Board: Consultants

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many consultants the Youth Justice Board has employed in each financial year since 2003-04; and how many such consultants were paid  (a) between £10,000 and £100,000,  (b) between £100,000 and £200,000,  (c) between £200,000 and £300,000 and  (d) over £300,000 in each such year.

Maria Eagle: The Youth Justice Board does not normally hire individual "consultants". If consultancy services are required for normal youth justice business, specific companies are procured to carry out defined pieces of work. The consultancy firm then decides how many staff they employ to deliver the work and the appropriate pay rates.
	However, in specific specialist circumstances the YJB procure the services of named consultants to represent the YJB's interests in specialist matters, and to manage the delivery of specialist work, such as ICT. The table below shows the number of such consultants providing services to the YJB, per year and per amount received by these individuals.
	
		
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 £10-100,000 27 27 16 28 69 59 
			 £100-200,000 0 1 2 7 21 21 
			 £200-300,000 0 0 1 1 1 1 
			 £300,000+ 0 0 0 0 0 1

Aylesbury Young Offender Institution

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many boys have been physically restrained in Aylesbury Young Offender Institution in each month since January 2009; and whether injuries were sustained by the young offender in each case.

Maria Eagle: Restraint is only ever to be used by staff as a last resort, when all other approaches have either not succeeded or would not be appropriate.
	Because of violent and sometimes dangerous behaviour, there are occasions on which use of physical restraint is unavoidable. We must consider the interests and safety of everyone in the establishment-other young people, staff and visitors-as well as that of the young person whose behaviour is causing problems.
	The number of incidents of control and restraint, together with the number and type of injuries sustained as a result, are set out in the table. The figures have been provided from records held at the establishment.
	
		
			   Number of C and R incidents  Number of injuries as a result of C and R 
			 January 12 1 
			 February 22 1 
			 March 29 1 
			 April 23 2 
			 May 22 5 
			 June 17 0 
			 Total 125 10

Complaints

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints the Office for Legal Complaints dealt with in the last 12 months.

Bridget Prentice: The Office for Legal Complaints has not considered any complaints in the past 12 months, as it is not as yet fully operational. Under current plans, this is expected to take place later in 2010. Until that time, complaints about the legal profession will continue to be handled by the professional bodies in the first instance with the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman providing an appeal mechanism.

Convictions: Young Offenders

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) 10 to 12,  (b) 13 to 15,  (c) 16 to 17 and  (d) 18 to 21-year-olds were (i) convicted and (ii) issued with a caution for all offences in each police force area in each year since 1997.

Claire Ward: The number of persons found guilty at all courts and issued with a caution for all offences in England and Wales, by age group and police force area, 1997 to 2007 (latest available) are shown in tables that have been placed in the House Library.
	From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These data are included in tables 5 to 8.
	The Government's strategy and reforms on youth crime are working; the latest National Statistics on juvenile reoffending show that the level of juvenile reoffending is at its lowest since records for the frequency of reoffending began in 2000, with the juvenile reoffending rate down by almost a quarter between 2000 and 2007.
	Cautions and court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Departmental Contracts

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many facilities management contracts have been let by his Department in each of the last 12 years.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was formed in May 2007 by merging the National Offender Management Service from the Home Office with the Department of Constitutional Affairs and the Office of Criminal Justice Reform. Data in respect of the number of facilities management contracts were not therefore held centrally prior to this time, and were not subsequently held centrally prior to June 2009.
	However, a data collection exercise which concluded in June 2009 has determined that a total of 227 contracts for managed, hard and soft facilities management services are in existence across the MoJ.

Departmental Manpower

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1662W, on departmental manpower, how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) press officers were employed by his Department in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09.

Jack Straw: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was formed in May 2007. The number of press officers employed by the MoJ in 2007-08 (as at 31 March 2008) was 33. The number employed in 2008-09 (as at 31 March 2009) was 40. This includes a member of staff on maternity leave. The MoJ press office operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, dealing with all media relations for the department and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) from the international, national and regional media. The MoJ is one of the largest Departments in Government. It is right that the public know and understand the work of the MoJ and its agencies and how taxpayers' money is being spent. Communications, including the work of the press office, is an important element of this. The rise in the number of press officers is attributable to the need to increase the capability of the press office to deal with the expanded remit of the work undertaken by the MoJ, compared to its previous incarnations, and to fill vacancies.
	Between April 2007 and July 2007, two special advisers were employed. These changed with the change of Secretary of State, so that between August 2007 and March 2008, two different special advisers were employed. The same two continued to be employed throughout 2008-09 and remain in post.

Departmental Security

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many breaches of security have been reported at  (a) HM Courts Service,  (b) the Land Registry,  (c) the National Offender Management Service,  (d) the National Archives,  (e) the Office of the Public Guardian and  (f) the Tribunals Service in the last five years; and what procedures each agency follows when a breach of security involves the disclosure of personal data.

Jack Straw: Ministry of Justice (MOJ) records as incidents any breach of security rules or events that have resulted in or had the potential to result in the loss of, damage to or harm to assets. The total number of centrally recorded security breaches/incidents occurring within the last five reporting years for the agencies/offices requested are broken down as follows:
	
		
			   2008-09  2007-08  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05 
			 HM Courts Service 744 940 1,010 641 295 
			 Land Registry 77 82 76 92 77 
			 National Offender Management Service 8,538 8,800 8,621 8,740 8,419 
			 National Archives 0 0 1 1 1 
			 Office of the Public Guardian 3 0 0 0 0 
			 Tribunals Service 224 215 164 (1)- (1)- 
			 (1) Agency not created. 
		
	
	98 per cent. of the incidents occurred in prisons and courts. This needs to be put into the context of the challenges faced with work in the high-risk prison environment.
	The Ministry of Justice is applying the Government's Security Policy Framework to effectively, efficiently and reliably control risks across its organisation.
	This comprises the requirement for all areas to apply procedures for reporting security incidents robustly, including the identification and investigation of the departure, however minor, from all security procedures.
	The outcome is an evidently effective security management regime which in 2008-09 saw the lowest number of escapes from prisons to date; abscond performance is good and improving.
	Where incidents involve the inadvertent disclosure of personal data these include the requirement to involve managers and Senior Civil Servants within an hour of any potential disclosure being identified. The circumstances surrounding each potential incident are investigated and where appropriate disciplinary action is taken.
	These figures differ from those provided by me in a written answer to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) on 29 April 2009,  Official Report , columns 1327-28W. I will be writing to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield and will issue a corrected answer to be printed in the  Official Report.
	The figures in this answer include an additional 4,507 security incidents/breaches relating to operational breaches of security in prison establishments. These mostly relate to the smuggling of drugs into prisons.
	Drugs misuse as measured by random mandatory drug testing has decreased by 63 per cent. since 1996-97, principally as a result of an effective offender management and prisoner support regime, combined with prison governors deploying a comprehensive range of robust security measures to detect contraband and prevent its importation into prisons.

Director of Offender Management

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects the appointment of the Director of Offender Management in each region in England and Wales to be complete.

Maria Eagle: Appointments were made in eight of the nine regions in England and the one in Wales. The successful candidates took up post in late March and during April 2009.
	There is currently an interim appointment in place in the north east. This post is due to be advertised in September with a view to filling it substantively by the end of the calendar year.

Drugs: Prisons

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what quantity of drugs of each type has been confiscated from prisoners in each prison in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: To compile the data requested requires a lengthy and detailed interrogation of a National Offender Management Service (NOMS) database such that to answer this question would exceed the cost limit.
	NOMS is currently part-way through the roll-out of Prison-NOMS Information System and this is due to be completed in 2010. Although this new system will not be updated with old data, any new drugs incidents in prisons will be entered onto it, meaning requests for information such as this will in future be possible to answer within the cost limit and with relative ease.

Fraud: Forgery

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been  (a) investigated,  (b) cautioned,  (c) tried and  (d) convicted for offences relating to fraud and forgery in each year since 1997.

Claire Ward: The number of persons cautioned, proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts, for offences relating to fraud and forgery, in England and Wales, 1997 to 2007 (latest available) is shown in the table.
	The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.
	Proceeded against and found guilty data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Information on the number of people who have been investigated for offences relating to fraud and forgery is not held by my Department.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  The number of persons cautioned, proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts, for selected offences relating to fraud and forgery in England and Wales, 1997 to 2007( 1,2,3,4,5,6) 
			   Cautioned  Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 1997 7,156 24,114 17,006 
			 1998 7,401 27,418 19,753 
			 1999 7,204 28,434 20,303 
			 2000 6,180 26,881 19,222 
			 2001 5,764 25,764 18,282 
			 2002 5,335 25,014 18,141 
			 2003 5,484 24,739 18,019 
			 2004 6,033 23,552 18,140 
			 2005 6,936 23,110 18,449 
			 2006 8,024 22,705 18,186 
			 2007 8,587 24,170 19,932 
			 (1) The offence group of Fraud and Forgery includes 'Indictable only' and 'triable-either way offences', it does not include summary offences. 'Indictable only' are the most serious breaches of the criminal law and must be dealt with at the Crown Court. 'Triable-either-way offences' may be tried at either the Crown Court or at magistrates courts. (2) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (3) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (4) Fraud and Forgery includes the following offence classes: Fraud by Company Director etc. False Accounting Other Fraud Bankruptcy Offence Forgery etc. of Drug Prescription Other Forgery etc. (5) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (6) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces (police forces only for cautions though). As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: OCJR-E&A: Office for Criminal Justice Reform-Evidence and Analysis Unit, Ministry of Justice

Grants

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many grants have been made by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform in the last 12 months; and what the total amount of those grants is.

Jack Straw: During 2008-09, OCJR made 174 grants totalling £49.9 million. Of this, £37.0 million was funding to Victim Support for nationwide services to victims and witnesses.

National Offender Management Service

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to paragraph 9.21 of the UK Strategy for Countering International Terrorism, Cm 7457, how many Muslim chaplains have received training from the National Offender Management Service (NOMS); where they are based; what estimate he has made of the size of the population they serve; what other NOMS staff have received further such training; where they are based; and at what cost to his Department the training has been provided.

Maria Eagle: As part of the National Offender Management Service's programme of work to address the risks associated with violent extremism and radicalisation, a series of briefings, written material, and training events have been delivered at both national and local level to a range of operational and non-operational staff working across prisons and probation, including Muslim chaplains. At present, there is no single central point for management information relating to training for staff across NOMS. Given the range of people employed directly by NOMS in public service prisons and in national and regional offices, as well as those employed directly by probation areas and trusts, obtaining information on associated costs to the Ministry of Justice would involve identifying and contacting sources across numerous locations and prove disproportionately expensive.
	Muslim chaplains, working as part of the prison's chaplaincy team, work with the entirety of the prison population, including staff, not just with Muslim prisoners, although figures show that as of March 2009 the Muslim population of the prisons estate stood at 9,930.

National Offender Management Service: Consultants

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the National Offender Management Service spent on consultants in financial year 2008-09; and how much was spent on consultants specifically for training and development purposes.

Jack Straw: Expenditure on external consultants by the National Offender Management Service in the financial year 2007-08 (latest available figures) was £6.9 million of which £3.5 million relates to HM Prison Service.
	The information requested for how much was spent on consultants specifically for training and development purposes is not held centrally and would involve a manual trawl of each unit responsible for this work at a disproportionate cost.

National Offender Management Service: Expenditure

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the outturn expenditure on  (a) the National Offender Management Service Head Office and  (b) the Probation Service was in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is set out as follows:
	 Financial year 2007-08
	 Nation al Offender Management Service h eadquarters
	The Resource outturn expenditure for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) headquarters in 2007-08 as published in the Ministry of Justice Resource Accounts was £1,114 million.
	Although the expenditure heading in the published accounts is called NOMS headquarters, the £1,114 million expenditure does not solely represent the administration costs of running NOMS headquarters. The figures in the following table show that the majority of the expenditure related to centrally managed front line services, including electronic monitoring, prisoner escort services and prison and probation property. Other services at the centre of NOMS such as the prison and probation ombudsman, HM Inspector of Prisons and Public Protection are directly related to front line services.
	
		
			  NOMS headquarters expenditure for 2007-08  £ million 
			 Administration costs 76 
			 Prison and probation property, estates and capacity planning 557 
			 Electronic monitoring 84 
			 Prisoner escort services (including Operation Safeguard) 212 
			 Other programme expenditure 185 
			 Total resource expenditure 1,114 
		
	
	The administration costs of running NOMS headquarters in 2007-08 were £76 million; or £151 million if HM Prison Service's administration costs are included. This is 1.6 per cent. or 3.2 per cent. respectively of the total NOMS resource expenditure.
	The £557 million expenditure on prison and probation property, estates and capacity planning relates to costs associated with the custodial and probation estate including: capital charges; estate management including major maintenance; and, where applicable, rent, rates, insurance and utilities.
	 The Probation Service
	The resource outturn expenditure for the Probation Service in 2007-08 was £845 million as published in the National Probation Service Consolidated Accounts 2007-08.
	 Financial Year 2008-09
	The information cannot be provided because the National Offender Management Service Agency Resource Accounts for 2008-09, and the National Probation Service Consolidated Accounts for 2008-09, have not yet been finalised and audited by the National Audit Office prior to their sign-off by the agency's director general.

Police

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what reports he has received of allegations of the systematic gathering of information by the States of Jersey police on elected members of the States of Jersey.

Michael Wills: I have received updates about the allegations referred to. This is currently a matter under investigation by the Wiltshire Constabulary at the request of the Government of Jersey. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.

Political Parties

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with HM Revenue and Customs on the implementation of the new provisions in the Political Parties and Elections Bill on non-resident donors.

Jack Straw: Officials from my Department have had a number of discussions with officials from HM Revenue and Customs on the taxation status provisions in the Political Parties and Elections Bill.
	My officials will continue discussions with HM Revenue and Customs, political parties and the Electoral Commission on implementation issues prior to bringing the new restriction into force.

Prison Accommodation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) male and  (b) female prisoners are being held on their own in cells designed for more than one prisoner.

Maria Eagle: The data requested are not held centrally and would be available only at a disproportionate cost.

Prison Service: Meat

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance his Department provides to HM Prison Service on the procurement of halal meat; and whether that guidance differentiates between stunned and pre-stunned meat.

Maria Eagle: All Halal denoted products provided via national NOMS supply contracts to prison establishments are accredited by a certifying Islamic body.
	There is no agreed national or international standard for Halal products. Additionally differing views in regard to interpretations of Islamic Law, in particular to stunning and mechanical slaughter issues, further compound the difficulty of fully ensuring consumer confidence among all Muslim prisoners when providing meals.
	The NOMS Muslim adviser, together with some Muslim chaplains, has consulted widely on the issue of Halal meat. The work culminated in the introduction of a NOMS Halal Standard which has been agreed by senior Muslim scholars from across all the different Muslim schools of thought. It has also been acknowledged by a senior official at the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) as an example of best practice. The Halal Standard together with comprehensive commodity specifications helps ensure that all Muslim prisoners are provided with assured, quality products. Since 1 April 2009, all Halal raw poultry products have been accredited and supplied to this new standard.
	If any prisoner has any doubt about the credibility of the Halal menu option offered, despite the introduction of these standards, there is always an option to choose a vegetarian or vegan option as an alternative.
	All contracted suppliers are required to comply with Food Quality Standards provided by the authority. This includes the standard for Halal, a copy of which has been placed in the House Library.
	The Halal Standard states:
	"the animal may be stunned, anaesthetised or otherwise rendered wholly or partially insensible before slaughter."

Prisoners

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how long on average a prisoner spent in  (a) production workshops,  (b) education and  (c) rehabilitation in each month in the last five years.

Jack Straw: The average time a prisoner has spent in  (a) production workshops,  (b) education and  (c) rehabilitation in each month in the last five years is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Month  (a) Average hours per prisoner per month in workshops  (b) Average hours per prisoner per month in education  (c) Average hours per prisoner per month in rehabilitation 
			 April 2004 2.7 6.2 1.3 
			 May 2004 2.9 6.5 1.3 
			 June 2004 3.2 6.9 1.4 
			 July 2004 3.1 6.8 1.5 
			 August 2004 3.0 6.4 1.3 
			 September 2004 3.3 6.9 1.4 
			 October 2004 3.2 6.9 1.4 
			 November 2004 3.3 6.9 1.5 
			 December 2004 2.7 6.0 1.2 
			 January 2005 3.1 6.9 1.5 
			 February 2005 3.1 7.0 1.5 
			 March 2005 2.8 6.6 1.4 
			 April 2005 2.9 6.7 1.3 
			 May 2005 2.9 6.7 1.4 
			 June 2005 3.2 7.1 1.6 
			 July 2005 3.2 7.1 1.6 
			 August 2005 3.0 6.6 1.5 
			 September 2005 3.2 7.2 1.5 
			 October 2005 3.1 7.0 1.5 
			 November 2005 3.1 7.2 1.6 
			 December 2005 2.7 6.2 1.3 
			 January 2006 3.0 7.1 1.5 
			 February 2006 3.1 7.3 1.5 
			 March 2006 3.1 7.5 1.5 
			 April 2006 2.8 6.8 1.4 
			 May 2006 2.9 7.1 1.5 
			 June 2006 3.0 7.3 1.6 
			 July 2006 3.0 7.2 1.6 
			 August 2006 2.8 6.9 1.6 
			 September 2006 2.9 7.3 1.6 
			 October 2006 2.9 7.2 1.6 
			 November 2006 3.0 7.3 1.7 
			 December 2006 2.5 6.2 1.4 
			 January 2007 2.9 7.3 1.9 
			 February 2007 2.9 7.3 1.7 
			 March 2007 2.8 7.4 1.7 
			 April 2007 2.9 6.9 0.9 
			 May 2007 2.9 6.8 0.9 
			 June 2007 3.2 7.5 0.9 
			 July 2007 3.2 7.5 0.9 
			 August 2007 2.9 6.6 0.8 
			 September 2007 3.2 7.3 0.9 
			 October 2007 3.1 7.3 0.9 
			 November 2007 3.2 7.3 1.0 
			 December 2007 2.6 6.2 0.8 
			 January 2008 3.1 7.4 1.0 
			 February 2008 3.1 7.4 1.0 
			 March 2008 2.9 7.0 0.9 
			 April 2008 3.0 7.3 0.9 
			 May 2008 2.7 6.9 0.9 
			 June 2008 2.9 7.4 0.9 
			 July 2008 2.8 7.2 0.9 
			 August 2008 2.7 6.9 0.9 
			 September 2008 2.8 7.2 0.9 
			 October 2008 2.8 7.3 0.9 
			 November 2008 2.8 7.2 0.9 
			 December 2008 2.2 6.0 0.7 
			 January 2009 2.8 7.4 0.9 
			 February 2009 2.7 7.3 0.9 
			 March 2009 2.8 7.6 0.8 
		
	
	There is a clear drop in the level of activity from 2007-08 onwards. This is in part attributable to the existence of fewer activities following a review of the collation of data as well as their use to monitor and manage prisoner activity.

Prisoners on Remand

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prisoners on remand in each financial year from 2005-06 to 2008-09 were found not guilty of the charges on which they were remanded to prison; and how many days on remand were served on average by such prisoners in each of those years;
	(2)  how many prisoners on remand in each financial year from 2005-06 to 2008-09 who were found guilty of the charges on which they were remanded to prison did not return to prison because their period on remand equalled or exceeded the terms of imprisonment that they would have been due to serve on conviction; and how many days on remand on average were served by such prisoners in each of those years.

Maria Eagle: The estimated number of defendants remanded in custody by all courts in England and Wales for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 (latest available) who were subsequently acquitted or not proceeded against was 14,500, 12,800, and 11,400 respectively.
	The estimated number of defendants remanded in custody by all courts in England and Wales for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 (latest available) who were subsequently found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody was 41,300, 39,700 and 38,800 respectively. From information held on the Court Proceedings Database, it is not possible to determine how many of these defendants did not return to custody because they had already served their sentence on remand.
	These data include those held in custody at any stage during proceedings and relate to the final outcome of the court proceedings. They are taken from the 'Criminal Statistics, England and Wales' publications, 2005-07 which is published annually and presents data by calendar year.
	Data from Offender Management Caseload Statistics indicate that during 2007 the average length of time served on remand was 55 days. This figure relates to all defendants and it is not possible to provide separate figures for those defendants who were subsequently acquitted and those subsequently found guilty.

Prisoners: Assaults

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) prisoner on prisoner and  (b) prisoner on prison officer assaults have been recorded in each prison in each month of 2009 to date; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is compiled on an annual basis.
	The figures for 2009 will be available in early 2010. However, I refer the hon. Lady to the latest information covering the years 2004 to 2008 that I have placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Violence in prisons is not tolerated. The National Offender Management Service is working with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that perpetrators of violence in prisons are dealt with through the courts where is appropriate to do so.

Prisons: Drugs

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on drug testing in prisons in each financial year from 2002-03 to 2008-09.

Maria Eagle: Many prison officers responsible for the mandatory drug testing (MDT) process do not work exclusively on the testing of prisoners. The cost of MDT staff resources cannot be disaggregated from the overall prison running costs.

Probation

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the ratio of offenders to probation service staff in the Hampshire probation area was in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is shown the following table. A data validation exercise is currently taking place on the area work force information for 2008.
	
		
			   Hampshire 
			 2004 10.5 
			 2005 10.1 
			 2006 10.3 
			 2007 10.6

Probation Officers: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) probation service officers and  (b) probation officers there were in the Essex probation area in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The number of probation service officers (PSOs) and probation officers (POs) in Essex probation area in each of the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Financial year  POs  PSOs  Total frontline 
			 2004-05 78 168 246 
			 2005-06 94 191 285 
			 2006-07 90 183 273 
			 2007-08 81 194 275 
			 2008-09 68 205 273 
		
	
	The trend towards employing larger numbers of PSOs and fewer POs is one that has occurred in many counties and recognises that there are many tasks that can be undertaken by PSOs that historically were completed by POs. In Essex probation area this change was completed as part of a planned staff restructuring process and was undertaken following full consultation with the local trade unions.

Probation: West Midlands

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average change in caseload for trained probation officers in West Mercia between 2002 and 2007 was.

Maria Eagle: The average case load per qualified probation officer was 15 orders in 2002 and 23 orders in 2007.

Prosecutions: Metals

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been prosecuted for offences under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Claire Ward: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences in relation to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964, in England and Wales for the years 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is shown in the following table. From information held by my department it is not possible to separately identify prosecutions for specific offences detailed within the Act.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts, offences under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 England and Wales,  2003 - 07( 1, 2) 
			   Proceeded against 
			 2003 5 
			 2004 5 
			 2005 7 
			 2006 5 
			 2007 5 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Evidence and Analysis Unit, Ministry of Justice

Reoffenders: Manchester

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders from Greater Manchester were charged with each category of violent offence while under supervision by the Probation Service in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management Service holds information on the number of offenders charged with serious further (violent) offences whilst under probation supervision for the years 2006-07 and 2007-08. However, this does not include all types of violent offence. The following table contains data on the number of offenders, managed by Greater Manchester probation area, who were charged with certain violent offences, where there was a requirement initially to notify the National Offender Management Service, in line with the Serious Further Offence Probation Circulars 06/2006 and 41/2006.
	
		
			  Notifications of serious further offence (violent offence) charges received by National Offender Management Service for 2006-07 and 2007-08. Serious Further Offence breakdown of Greater Manchester cases notified to NOMS PPU between 1 April 2006 -31 March 2008 
			  Serious violent offence description  Initial notifications received 2006-07  Initial notifications received 2007-08 
			 Aggravated burglary (section 10 of the Theft Act 1968) 0 6 
			 Aggravated theft 4 5 
			 Arson (section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971) 10 9 
			 Attempt to commit murder or a conspiracy to commit murder 7 6 
			 Burglary with intent to (a) inflict grievous bodily harm on a person or (b) do unlawful damage to a building or anything in it. (section 9 of the Theft Act 1968) 0 2 
			 Causing death by dangerous driving (section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988) 4 2 
			 False imprisonment 3 6 
			 Kidnapping 6 6 
			 Manslaughter 1 0 
			 Murder 9 6 
			 Other offences against the person 5 2 
			 Other serious violent offence 6 5 
			 Possession of firearm at time of committing or being arrested for offence specified in Schedule 1 to that Act (section 17(2) of the Firearms Act 1968) 0 1 
			 Possession of firearm with intent to endanger life (section 16 of the Firearms Act 1968) 0 1 
			 Robbery or assault with intent to rob (section 8 of the Theft Act 1968) 0 1 
			 Serious firearms offences (SFO) 8 22 
			 Wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (section 18 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861) 40 57 
			 Total 103 137

Security

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many breaches of security at his Department's Petty France office were recorded in the last 12 months.

Jack Straw: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) records as incidents any breach of security rules or events that have resulted in or had the potential to result in the loss, damage or harm to assets.
	The total number of recorded security breaches/incidents occurring in 102 Petty France (MoJ HQ) for the last reporting year was 25.
	Most of these were low-level departures from security procedures by staff and none were assessed to be significant, for example not displaying their passes adequately. They were identified via enforcement activity/inspections. Remedial action was taken in all cases to address areas of non-compliance and ensure no re-occurrence.
	The MoJ is applying the Government's Security Policy Framework to control risks effectively, efficiently and reliably across its organisation. This includes a regime of education and awareness for staff/contractors, robust implementation of controls to manage risks to a reasonably practicable level and a physical security monitoring/inspection and auditing regime across its HQ estate.

Security

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many breaches of security at his Department were recorded in each of the last two years.

Jack Straw: The Ministry of Justice records as incidents any breach of security rules or events that have resulted in or had the potential to result in the loss of, damage to or harm to assets. The total number of centrally recorded security breaches/incidents occurring within the Ministry of Justice for the 2008-09 and 2007-08 reporting year is broken down as follows:
	
		
			   2008-09 
			 Information 394 
			 IT 922 
			 Buildings/physical 4,022 
			 Personnel 2 
			 Operational 4,745 
			 Other 269 
			 Total 10,354 
		
	
	
		
			   2007-08 
			 Information and IT 563 
			 Buildings/physical 1,882 
			 Personnel 0 
			 Operational 8,435 
			 Other - 
			 Total 10,880 
		
	
	Of the total, over 80 per cent. relate to incidents involving prisons and courts. This needs to be put into the context of the challenges faced with work in the high-risk prison environment. 2008-09 saw the lowest number of escapes from prisons to date; abscond performance is good and improving.
	The Ministry of Justice is applying the Government's Security Policy Framework to control risks across its organisation.
	Although, there has been a 43 per cent. increase in reported information and IT security related breaches/incidents, much of this is the result of the implementation of a robust information assurance programme. This has included the need for all areas to robustly apply procedures for reporting security incidents, including the identification and investigation of the departure, however minor, from all security procedures. The result is an evidently improving information security management system. This has seen a 70 per cent. reduction in the number or significant information security incidents/breaches between the two reporting years.
	The figures above detail a 47 per cent. increase in building/physical related breaches/incidents and 87 per cent. decrease in operational security breaches between the two years. 97 per cent. of these relate to either prison or court physical security operational breaches/incidents. The split is solely attributable to the change in the way HM Prison Service have assigned breaches/incidents to classifications between the two years.

Sentencing: Foreigners

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2009,  Official Report, column 86W, on sentencing: foreigners, 
	(1)  how many of the three prisoners discharged from a mandatory life sentence were  (a) handed over to the custody of the UK Border Agency and  (b) transferred to approved premises;
	(2)  what the nationality was of each of the three prisoners discharged from a mandatory life sentence.

Jack Straw: Of the three prisoners discharged from a mandatory life sentence, one was an Irish national, one an Indian national and one a Pakistani national. None of the offenders was subject to deportation or, therefore, taken into UK Border Agency custody. One of the three was released into approved premises; the other two were released into alternative accommodation, which had been risk-assessed by the probation service.
	All three were released subject to supervision on life licence by the probation service.
	There are 101 approved premises in England and Wales. Approved premises are used primarily to supervise certain high risk of harm offenders on release from custody. They provide for the kind of effective and close supervision of certain offenders which would be much more difficult to achieve if those offenders were dispersed into less suitable accommodation elsewhere in the community.

Trespassing: Agricultural Land

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions for trespass on agricultural land  (a) resulted and  (b) did not result in a conviction in the last three years.

Claire Ward: Offences related to "trespass on agricultural land" are covered by sections 61, 63, 68, and 70 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
	The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts in England and Wales for these offences under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 are shown in the table.
	It should be noted that offences under the aforementioned statute and appropriate sections are not solely for "trespass on agricultural land".
	The found guilty column may exceed those proceeded against, as it may be the case that the proceedings in the magistrates court took place in the preceding year and they were found guilty at the Crown court in the following year, or the defendants were found guilty of a different offence to the original offence proceeded against.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sections 61, 63, 68, and 70, in England and Wales, 2003 to 2007( 1,2,3) 
			Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			  Statute  Offence description  2005  2006  2007  2005  2006  2007 
			 Public Order Act 1986 Part II S.14B(3) as added by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 S.70 Inciting another to take part in a prohibited trespassory assembly 1 1 0 0 0 1 
			 
			 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 S.61 Failing to leave land when directed or to return as a trespasser within three months 1 3 2 0 2 2 
			 
			 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 S.63 Failing to leave land when directed or returning within 7 days of the direction (raves) 0 1 13 0 1 9 
			 
			 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 S.68 Disrupting or obstructing a lawful activity or seeking to intimidate 60 36 87 39 26 69 
			 
			 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 S.63 (7A) and (7B) as added by Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 S.58 Committing an offence knowing that a direction under S.63(2) applies and making preparations for or attending a gathering (rave) within 24 hours starting when the direction was given 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 
			 Total  62 41 102 39 29 81 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The found guilty column may exceed those proceeded against, as it may be the case that the proceedings in the magistrates court took place in the preceding year and they were found guilty at the Crown court in the following year, or the defendants were found guilty for a different offence to the original offence proceeded against.  Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit-Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Ministry of Justice

Visas: Fraud

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions for offences of fraud in relation to visa applications there were in  (a) England,  (b) the East of England region,  (c) Essex and  (d) Castle Point in each of the last 10 years.

Claire Ward: The number of defendants found guilty at all courts in relation to visa application frauds for offences under the Immigration Act 1971 in England and Wales, the Essex police force area and the East of England Government Office Region from 1998 to 2007 (latest available) is shown in the table.
	The statistics given relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. For example, when a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Office respectively.
	Information held by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database is not available at constituency level.
	Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn 2009.
	
		
			  The number of defendants found guilty at all courts for selected offences under the Immigration Act 1971, by area, 1998 to 2007( 1,2) 
			  Offence description  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  England and Wales   
			 Person who is not a British citizen: obtaining or seeking to obtain leave to enter or remain in the UK by deception; obtaining or seeking to obtain the avoidance, postponement or revocation of enforcement action-sections 24A(1)(a), 24A(1)(b), 3 - - 9 106 169 117 136 146 74 83 
			 Entering the UK in breach of a deportation order-Section 24(1)(a) 4 5 2 1 7 7 7 6 7 6 
			 Entering the UK without leave-section 24(1)(a) 7 15 14 24 36 39 24 33 63 26 
			 Failing to observe condition of leave-section 24(1)(b)(ii) 5 5 2 8 1 2 1 1 1 - 
			 Sub-total 16 25 27 139 213 165 168 186 145 115 
			
			  Essex police force area   
			 Person who is not a British citizen: obtaining or seeking to obtain leave to enter or remain in the UK by deception; obtaining or seeking to obtain the avoidance, postponement or revocation of enforcement action-sections 24A(1)(a), 24A(1)(b), 3 - - - 2 3 9 11 27 7 1 
			 Entering the UK in breach of a deportation order - Section 24(1 )(a) - - - - - - - - - 2 
			 Entering the UK without leave-section 24(1)(a) - 1 - - - 2 - 1 - - 
			 Sub-total - 1 - 2 3 11 11 28 7 3 
			
			  East of England Government Office Region   
			 Person who is not a British citizen: obtaining or seeking to obtain leave to enter or remain in the UK by deception; obtaining or seeking to obtain the avoidance, postponement or revocation of enforcement action-sections 24A(1)(a), 24A(1)(b), 3 - - - 2 6 20 16 30 8 2 
			 Entering the UK in breach of a deportation order-Section 24(1)(a) 2 - - - 1 - - - - 2 
			 Entering the UK without leave-section 24(1)(a) - 1 - - 3 11 - 2 3 - 
			 Sub-total 2 1 - 2 10 31 16 32 11 4 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Figures given represent case that went through the courts on offences from all prosecuting departments including the police and Serious Organised Crime Agency.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform-Evidence and Analysis Unit.

Young Offenders: Reoffenders

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what percentage of  (a) 12,  (b) 13,  (c) 14,  (d) 15,  (e) 16,  (f) 17,  (g) 18 and  (h) 19 year-olds who were released from each young offender institution in each of the last five years were reconvicted within a year of release;
	(2)  what percentage of  (a) 12,  (b) 13,  (c) 14,  (d) 15,  (e) 16,  (f) 17,  (g) 18 and  (h) 19 year-olds who were released from young offender institutions after serving a sentence for a non-violent offence were reconvicted within a year for a violent offence in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Juvenile reoffending covers those aged 10 to 17. A release from custody could be from a Secure Training Centre, a Secure Children's Home or a Young Offender Institution. Data are not broken down by type of release establishment or by individual release establishment.
	The following table shows the frequency of reoffences per 100 offenders and the actual rate of reoffending for each of the last five years for which data are available. Those aged 10 through to 15 have been banded due to the small number of offenders in each of the groups.
	
		
			  Juvenile actual and frequency rates per 100 offenders for custody 
			   Age band  Number of offenders  Actual reoffending rate (%)  Frequency of reoffences (per 100 offenders) 
			 2003 10-15 133 78.2 424.8 
			  16 235 76.6 465.1 
			  17 418 70.8 435.4 
			  Total 786 73.8 442.5 
			 2004 10-15 209 80.4 461.2 
			  16 244 77.0 401.6 
			  17 362 73.8 397.0 
			  Total 815 76.4 414.8 
			 2005 10-15 195 80.0 463.1 
			  16 275 70.2 424.7 
			  17 374 71.7 370.3 
			  Total 844 73.1 409.5 
			 2006 10-15 200 83.0 463.5 
			  16 262 79.4 433.2 
			  17 355 71.8 349.0 
			  Total 817 77.0 404.0 
			 2007 10-15 171 78.9 407.0 
			  16 246 77.2 370.7 
			  17 361 72.3 328.3 
			  Total 778 75.3 359.0 
		
	
	The information on the re-offence of juveniles released from custody for non-violent offences is not available at this level of detail.
	Reoffenders that are aged 18 and 19 are included in the adult dataset. We do not have the facility to determine those that were released from young offender institutions. Further information on adult re-offending is available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/reoffending-adults-2007.pdf
	For information on the latest juvenile re-offending statistics please consult:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/reoffending-juveniles-2007.pdf

Youth Justice Board: Finance

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what methodology was used to calculate the budget of the Youth Justice Board for the provision of youth custody when the Board was formed in 1998.

Maria Eagle: The Youth Justice Board took responsibility for commissioning and purchasing places in the under 18 secure estate in 2000-01. The funding allocated to the Youth Justice Board by the Home Office was based on historical information on the cost of placing young people in custody and anticipated levels of need. YJB funding requirements are reviewed annually.

CABINET OFFICE

10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 78W, on 10 Downing Street: repairs and maintenance, how much was paid to Ecovert FM for the works carried out in August and September 2008.

Angela Smith: Information on capital expenditure on improving Cabinet Office buildings, including the Downing Street estate for 2008-09 is included in the Resource Accounts published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2008-09. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Charities

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance the Charity Commission has issued on whether registered charities may  (a) register as third parties with the Electoral Commission and  (b) engage in political campaigning during a regulated election period.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated July 2009:
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on what guidance the Charity Commission has issued on whether registered charities may  (a) register as third parties with the Electoral Commission, and  (b) engage in political campaigning during an election period.
	Charity law on campaigning and political activity is set out in our published guidance 'Speaking Out-Guidance on Campaigning and Political Activity by Charities' (CC9) and 'Charities and Elections' which are available on our website at www.charitycommission.gov.uk. This guidance makes clear that a charity can carry out campaigning and political activity as a means of furthering or supporting its charitable purpose, but that under charity law a charity must never carry out party political activity.
	On part  (a) of your question regarding the issue of a charity's registration as a third party with the Electoral Commission, our guidance signposts charities to the Electoral Commission and to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. We do not provide detailed guidance ourselves. Charities must not support or oppose any party political campaign, candidate or manifesto. Therefore we do not envisage circumstances where it would be necessary for a charity to register with the Electoral Commission as a third party. We would be concerned about any charity that was recognised in this way, and would certainly want to explore this further with them.
	As to part  (b), the Commission's guidance on political campaigning during an election period makes clear that the principles for a charity engaging in any campaigning or political activity continue to apply. The key principle of charity law in terms of elections is that charities must be, and be seen to be, independent from party politics. We therefore urge charities to think carefully about what activities they engage in during this period, and how they might be perceived.
	We are currently in the process of arranging to meet with the Electoral Commission to discuss further the issue of third party registration. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have other questions. I hope this is helpful.

Civil Servants: Vacancies

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1473W, on civil servants: vacancies 
	(1)  how many civil service jobs were advertised in the last 12 months  (a) externally and  (b) internally;
	(2)  what the job titles were of each of the vacancies in the last 12 months which were advertised on the internal gateway; and in which Department each of the vacancies was.

Angela Smith: Further to the answer given on 17 March 2009, since civil service jobs online service went live on 25 February 2009, 4,587 vacancies in the civil service have been advertised externally on the website and 2,789 have been advertised to civil servants. Further information about these vacancies could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Cybercrime

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much funding the Government plans to provide to protect UK IT networks from cyber attacks in 2009-10.

David Hanson: I have been asked to reply.
	While there is no one budget for cyber security, and the Government do not provide details of the resources employed by the UK intelligence and security agencies, cyber security is a key priority and as such is appropriately resourced. A number of Government bodies contribute towards the protection of UK networks. For example: CPNI, Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, provides advice on electronic or cyber protective security measures to the businesses and organisations that comprise the UK's critical national infrastructure, including public utilities companies and banks CPNI also runs a CERT service which responds to reported attacks on private sector networks; and CESG, part of GCHQ, provides Government Departments with advice and guidance on how to protect against, detect and mitigate various types of cyber attack.
	CESG also runs the computer emergency response team, GovCertUK, which provides warnings, alerts and assistance in resolving serious IT incidents for the public sector. In addition to this existing work, the June 2009 Cyber Security Strategy also announced the provision of additional programme funding for the development of innovative future technologies to protect UK networks; the details will be reported to Parliament in the autumn.

Departmental Billing

John Mason: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what percentage of invoices to  (a) the Cabinet Office and  (b) the Office of the Leader of the House from suppliers her Department paid within 10 days of receipt in June 2009.

Angela Smith: In June 2009 the Cabinet Office paid 97.4 per cent. of correctly rendered invoices within 10 days. This figure covers the whole of the Cabinet Office, including the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons.

Departmental Postal Services

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much her Department spent on services from Royal Mail in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Details of expenditure with the Royal Mail is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   £000 
			 2004-05 378 
			 2005-06 271 
			 2006-07 168 
			 2007-08 221 
			 2008-09 203

Departmental Publications

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will restore the Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies to its 1997 format.

Tessa Jowell: The annual "Cabinet Office Public Bodies" publication provides headline information on the NDPB sector and on public appointments. Detailed information on individual NDPBs is provided by relevant sponsor departments. Following representations by my hon. Friend, links to this detailed information, together with the latest publication Public Bodies 2008, are now located on the Civil Service website at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/work/codes/ndpbs.aspx

Departmental Publications

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what expenditure her Department incurred in the production of its document, Building Britain's Future; and how many copies were printed.

Tessa Jowell: 1,000 copies of the main document were produced in print. In addition, 4,500 of the 15 page summary document were printed. 1,000 copies of the summary document are also being produced in Welsh. The total cost was £39,047.00 (excluding VAT).

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answers of 3 November 2008,  Official Report, column 22W, and 29 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1020W, on departmental training, what personal training courses at public expense other Ministers in  (a) her Department and  (b) the Leader of the House's Office have undertaken since 1 January 2008.

Tessa Jowell: Training is provided to Ministers as necessary in order to carry out their duties effectively under the "Ministerial Code".

Ministers: Gifts and Endowments

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what criteria are used to ascertain whether a Minister has received a gift or hospitality in a private capacity for the purposes of declarations under the Ministerial Code.

Tessa Jowell: Guidance on the acceptance of gifts and hospitality is set out in paragraphs 7.20-7.24 of the "Ministerial Code".

Public Appointments Unit

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1464W, on public appointments, what financial saving was attributed to the closure of the Public Appointments Unit when it was counted as a Gershon efficiency saving; and what assessment has been made of the effect of the closure on the costs of other Government departments.

Tessa Jowell: The Cabinet Office Public Appointments Unit was disbanded in July 2007 in response to recommendations arising from the 2006 Capability Review of the Cabinet Office, rather than as a result of the Gershon Review, and its responsibilities transferred elsewhere within the Department.
	Costs would be available only at disproportionate cost.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds have been fired by British forces in each Brigade rotation in Afghanistan since Herrick 6, broken down by type of ammunition used.

John Hutton: Officials are collating and validating the data needed to answer this question and this is taking longer than anticipated. I will therefore write to the hon. Member when this work is complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the answer of 3 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1518W, how many rounds of  (a) 0.338 ammunition of all natures,  (b) 12 bore shotgun ammunition,  (c) 30 mm armoured fighting vehicle ammunition of all natures,  (d) 30 mm attack helicopter ammunition of all natures and  (e) 105 mm ammunition of all natures were used in Operation Herrick 7.

John Hutton: Officials are collating and validating the data needed and this is taking longer than anticipated. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds of  (a) 51 mm and  (b) 81 mm mortar ammunition of all natures were used in Operation (i) Herrick 4, (ii) Herrick 5, (iii) Herrick 6 and (iv) Herrick 7.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 April 2009
	 Officials are collating and validating the data needed and this is taking longer than anticipated. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Adam Holloway:
	I am writing to provide you with the information promised in mine and my predecessor's holding replies to your Parliamentary Questions regarding ammunition expenditure in Afghanistan on 20 April 2009 (Official Report, column 46W); 31 March 2009 (Official Report, column 1034W) and 26 November 2008 (Official Report, column 1518W).
	The Ministry of Defence has recently completed a review of the data on ammunition usage required to answer this question, and has revised the manner in which we classify and present data to ensure consistency. The table below shows all ammunition expenditure for UK forces in Afghanistan from the beginning of retained records (August 2006) to the end of Operation HERRICK 9 (October 2008-April 2009), in April of this year.
	You will note that, unfortunately, this review has resulted in corrections to the ammunition figures previously issued for the HERRICK 6 (April 2007-October 2007) and HERRICK 7 (October 2007-April 2008) roulements. These figures have been found to be incorrect due inconsistency of tour dates taken, inconsistency of inclusion of training rounds and a failure to include all variations of ammunition in all cases.
	
		
			  Ammunition type  Herrick 4  (13 August 2006-October  20 06)( 1)  Herrick 5  ( October 2006-April 2007 )  Herrick 6  ( April 2007-October 2007 )  Herrick 7  ( October 2007-April 2008 )  Herrick 8  ( April 2008-Oct ober  2008 )  Herrick 9  ( October 2008-April  20 09 ) 
			 7.62 mm all variants 210,000 520,000 1,300,000 1,380,000 700,000 908,400 
			 5.56 mm all variants 235,000 615,000 1,490,000 1,390,000 1,000,000 1,080,000 
			 0.5 inch all variants 25,000 90,000 200,000 180,000 113,000 196,000 
			 12.7 mm all variants 2,400 350 4,800 21,000 13,000 10,600 
			 9 mm all variants 10,000 69,000 30,000 69,000 71,700 61,400 
			 0.338 inch all variants 200 1,700 5,600 7,300 8,200 12,100 
			 12 bore shotgun all variants 5 45 660 15,100 300 525 
			 105 mm all variants 8,600 4,300 12,100 12,400 5,600 11,200 
			 30 mm armd fighting veh rounds 1,200 5,000 3,600 2,800 745 4,500 
			 30 mm Attack helicopter rounds 29,800 21,000 27,800 15,700 34,400 34,200 
			 (1) Accounting records exist only from 13 August 2006-mid Herrick 4.  Note s : 1. All tour dates are taken from the Transfer of Authority from one Brigade to the next. 2. All figures rounded to nearest 10,000, 1,000 or 100. 
		
	
	Ammunition expenditure is shown for the whole of Afghanistan, rather than just Helmand Province as the information is collated centrally for UK forces in Afghanistan. The data include all training rounds used and all variants of each ammunition type. They are collated by each HERRICK roulement, at the end of which the data are finalised for records.
	All data shown above are data based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment.
	I hope that the above information addresses your concerns on this matter.
	I will place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds of ammunition have been discharged by British forces in Afghanistan in each rotation since 2006.

John Hutton: Officials are collating and validating the data needed and this is taking longer than anticipated. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds of ammunition have been discharged in Helmand province by British forces in each roulement since June 2006, broken down by ammunition type.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1993W.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Liam Fox:
	I am writing to provide you with the information promised in my predecessor's holding reply to your Parliamentary Questions regarding ammunition expenditure in Afghanistan on 11 February 2009, (Official Report, column 1992W), and 26 February 2009, (Official Report, column 1050W).
	The Ministry of Defence has recently completed a review of the data on ammunition usage required to answer this question, and has revised the manner in which we classify and present data to ensure consistency. The table below shows all ammunition expenditure for UK forces in Afghanistan from the beginning of retained records (August 2006) to the end of Operation HERRICK 9 (October 2008- April 2009), in April of this year.
	You will note that, unfortunately, this review has resulted in corrections to the ammunition figures previously issued for the HERRICK 6 (April 2007 - October 2007) and HERRICK 7 (October 2007 - April 2008) roulements. These figures have been found to be incorrect due inconsistency of tour dates taken, inconsistency of inclusion of training rounds and a failure to include all variations of ammunition in all cases.
	
		
			  Ammunition type  HERRICK 4   (13 August 2006 - October 2006)( 1)  HERRICK 5  (October 2006 - April 2007)  HERRICK 6  (April 2007 -October 2007)  HERRICK 7  (October 2007 - April 2008)  HERRICK 8  (April 2008 - October 2008)  HERRICK 9  (October 2008 - April 2009) 
			 7.62mm all variants 210,000 520,000 1,300,000 1,380,000 700,000 908,400 
			 5.56mm all variants 235,000 615,000 1,490,000 1,390,000 1,000,000 1,080,000 
			 0.5 inch all variants 25,000 90,000 200,000 180,000 113,000 196,000 
			 12.7mm all variants 2,400 350 4,800 21,000 13,000 10,600 
			 9mm all variants 10,000 69,000 30,000 69,000 71,700 61,400 
			 0.338 inch all variants 200 1,700 5,600 7,300 8,200 12,100 
			 12 bore shotgun all variants 5 45 660 15,100 300 525 
			 105mm all variants 8,600 4,300 12,100 12,400 5,600 11,200 
			 30mm armd fighting veh rounds 1,200 5,000 3,600 2,800 745 4,500 
			 30mm Attack helicopter rounds 29,800 21,000 27,800 15,700 34,400 34,200 
			 (1) Accounting records exist only from 13 August 2006 - mid HERRICK 4  Notes: All tour dates are taken from the Transfer of Authority from one Brigade to the next. All figures rounded to nearest 10,000, 1000 or 100. 
		
	
	Ammunition expenditure is shown for the whole of Afghanistan, rather than just Helmand Province as the information is collated centrally for UK forces in Afghanistan. The data include all training rounds used and all variants of each ammunition type. They are collated by each HERRICK roulement, at the end of which the data are finalised for records.
	All data shown above is data based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the number of shots fired by UK armed forces in Helmand province since 2006.

Bob Ainsworth: Officials are collating and validating the data needed and this is taking longer than anticipated. I will write to the right hon. Member when this work is complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of shots fired by the armed forces in Helmand province in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007; and how many shots were fired in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Hutton: Officials are collating and validating the data needed and this is taking longer than anticipated. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds of ammunition were fired by UK armed forces in Afghanistan in 2007-08.

John Hutton: Officials are collating and validating the data needed to answer this question and this is taking longer than anticipated. I will therefore write to the hon. Members when this work is complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Michael Ancram:
	I am writing to provide you with the information promised in mine and my predecessor's holding replies to your Parliamentary Questions regarding ammunition expenditure in Afghanistan on 11 February 2009 (Official Report, cols 1992-1993W), 11 May 2009 (Official Report, col 605W) and 26 November 2008 (Official Report, col 1518W).
	The Ministry of Defence has recently completed a review of the data on ammunition usage required to answer this question, and has revised the manner in which we classify and present data to ensure consistency. The table below shows all ammunition expenditure for UK forces in Afghanistan from the beginning of retained records (August 2006) to the end of Operation HERRICK 9 (October 2008 - April 2009), in April of this year.
	You will note that, unfortunately, this review has resulted in corrections to the ammunition figures previously issued for the HERRICK 6 (April 2007 - October 2007) and HERRICK 7 (October 2007 - April 2008) roulements. These figures have been found to be incorrect due inconsistency of tour dates taken, inconsistency of inclusion of training rounds and a failure to include all variations of ammunition in all cases.
	
		
			  Type  HERRICK 4   (13 August 2006 -October 2006)( 1)  HERRICK 5 (October 2006 -April 2007)  HERRICK 6  (April 2007 -October 2007)  HERRICK 7  (October 2007 - April 2008)  HERRICK 8  (1 April 2008 -October 2008)  HERRICK 9  (October 2008 -April 2009) 
			 7.62mm all variants 210,000 520,000 1,300,000 1,380,000 700,000 908,400 
			 5.56mm all variants 235,000 615,000 1,490,000 1,390,000 1,000,000 1,080,000 
			 0.5 inch all variants 25,000 90,000 200,000 180,000 113,000 196,000 
			 12.7mm all variants 2,400 350 4,800 21,000 13,000 10,600 
			 9mm all variants 10,000 69,000 30,000 69,000 71,700 61,400 
			 0.338 inch all variants 200 1,700 5,600 7,300 8,200 12,100 
			 12 bore shotgun all variants 5 45 660 15,100 300 525 
			 105mm all variants 8,600 4,300 12,100 12,400 5,600 11,200 
			 30mm armd fighting veh rounds 1,200 5,000 3,600 2,800 745 4,500 
			 30mm Attack helicopter rounds 29,800 21,000 27,800 15,700 34,400 34,200 
			 (1) Accounting records exist only from 13 August 2006 - mid HERRICK 4  Notes: All tour dates are taken from the Transfer of Authority from one Brigade to the next.  All figures rounded to nearest 10,000, 1000 or 100. 
		
	
	Ammunition expenditure is shown for the whole of Afghanistan, rather than just Helmand Province as the information is collated centrally for UK forces in Afghanistan. The data include all training rounds used and all variants of each ammunition type. They are collated by each HERRICK roulement, at the end of which the data are finalised for records.
	All data shown above are data based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment.
	I hope that the above information addresses your concerns on this matter.
	I will place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received reports of Taliban forces seeking to acquire ground-to-air missiles.

Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding this information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
	We constantly monitor the threats faced by our personnel in Afghanistan and ensure that we take all possible steps to respond to these threats as they evolve.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has assessed the potential effectiveness of infrared surveillance capabilities used by the police for deployment for military purposes in Afghanistan.

Quentin Davies: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) undertakes a wide-ranging research programme supporting the needs of our troops on current and future operations. As part of continuing successful coalition operations, the MOD is currently discussing infrared surveillance with several parties including the Metropolitan Police Service.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2009,  Official Report, column 899W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, how many British troops were required to serve in the Regional Command South Headquarters between May 2007 and February 2008.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 July 2009,  Official Report, column 264W.

Air Force: Military Bases

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has commissioned on the relative merits of RAF bases  (a) in the UK  (b) overseas in the last three years.

Bill Rammell: The number and operation of RAF bases both in the UK and overseas is constantly under review to ensure that the best use is made of the Defence estate for our armed forces. The outcome of this work is reflected in the Defence Estate Development Plan 2009, which can be found at the following link:
	http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/publications/dedp.php

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints Modern Housing Solutions received in each area in each month in 2008.

Kevan Jones: The requested information for 2008 is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Month  Region  Number of complaints 
			  January East 39 
			  London 120 
			  North 37 
			  South East 116 
			  South West 105 
			  West 33 
			  Total for month 450 
			
			  February East 44 
			  London 114 
			  North 41 
			  South East 101 
			  South West 101 
			  West 25 
			  Total for month 426 
			
			  March East 37 
			  London 98 
			  North 30 
			  South East 108 
			  South West 91 
			  West 18 
			  Total for month 382 
			
			  April East 63 
			  London 121 
			  North 29 
			  South East 102 
			  South West 88 
			  West 25 
			  Total for month 428 
			
			  May East 49 
			  London 113 
			  North 29 
			  South East 106 
			  South West 85 
			  West 15 
			  Total for month 397 
			
			  June East 48 
			  London 110 
			  North 21 
			  South East 84 
			  South West 102 
			  West 14 
			  Total for month 379 
			
			  July East 38 
			  London 152 
			  North 24 
			  South East 124 
			  South West 88 
			  West 32 
			  Total for month 458 
			
			  August East 31 
			  London 129 
			  North 30 
			  South East 104 
			  South West 71 
			  West 33 
			  Total for month 398 
			
			  September East 53 
			  London 150 
			  North 27 
			  South East 119 
			  South West 96 
			  West 34 
			  Total for month 479 
			
			  October East 56 
			  London 154 
			  North 45 
			  South East 135 
			  South West 83 
			  West 36 
			  Total for month 509 
			
			  November East 53 
			  London 112 
			  North 22 
			  South East 103 
			  South West 92 
			  West 25 
			  Total for month 407 
			
			  December East 44 
			  London 128 
			  North 18 
			  South East 90 
			  South West 78 
			  West 32 
			  Total for month 390

British Forces Post Office: Manpower

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration he has given to future staffing levels in the British Forces Post Office; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The staffing levels of the British Forces Post Office are determined by the requirement to ensure that our personnel have access to appropriate postal facilities. Support to operations, exercises and to HM Ships can be provided only by British Forces Post Office staff. However, we have identified that savings may be realised if personnel based in countries with a well developed postal infrastructure utilise the indigenous postal service rather than relying on British Forces Post Office staff. To that end the Forces Post Offices servicing the UK elements of NATO HQs in SHAPE, Brussels, Brunssum, Stavanger, Karup, Rome, Milan, Lisbon, Valencia and Norfolk Virginia are due to close.

Defence: Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by each of the armed services on defence procurement in the latest year for which figures are available; and how much such expenditure was incurred by each service in  (a) Wales,  (b) Northern Ireland,  (c) England and  (d) overseas.

Quentin Davies: The defence budget is not allocated by service or by sub-UK level. Defence Procurement provides the UK armed forces with the equipment needed as efficiently as possible to deliver the best value for money for the armed forces. The Defence Budget is planned solely on this basis.
	The latest estimates of direct MOD expenditure on equipment and non-equipment procurement are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million at current prices (VAT exclusive) 
			  2006-07  Wales  Northern Ireland  England  Overseas 
			 Total 220 200 15,230 2,330 
			  of which: 
			 Equipment expenditure 120 60 9,620 2,170 
			 Non equipment expenditure 100 140 5,610 160 
			  Note: Figures rounded to nearest £10 million 
		
	
	The data underlying the estimates of direct expenditure on procurement cannot be broken down by service. In addition, these figures do not take into account expenditure by main contractors to sub-contractors in these geographic areas, nor do they take account of monies paid for work done in that area if the company's billing address is elsewhere.
	The MOD reports spend on procurement in the UK Defence Statistics can be found at the following link;
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/UKDS2008/ukds.html
	This annual report presents the MOD procurement of goods and services in the UK broken out by industry sector and estimates of aggregate MOD equipment expenditure.

Defence: Research

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cash allocations his Department has made for defence research for each of the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: The current planning assumption is that the science innovation and technology budget will have available approximately £439 million in 2010-11. This compares with £544 million in 2009-10 when calculated on the same basis. Departmental expenditure limits have not yet been set for the years beyond 2010-11.

Departmental Budgets

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's science innovation and technology budget is for 2010-11.  [Official Report, 18 November 2009, Vol. 501, c. 1MC.]

Quentin Davies: The current planning assumption is that the SIT budget will have available approximately £439 million in 2010-11. This compares with £544 million in 2009-10 when calculated on the same basis. Departmental expenditure limits have not yet been set for the years beyond 2010-11.

Departmental Compensation

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much compensation his Department has paid to former and serving  (a) members of the armed forces and  (b) civil servants in cases of (i) sexual discrimination, (ii) bullying and (iii) other infringements of employment rights in the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: Some £182,600 was paid out to Military personnel in the last 12 months to settle two sexual discrimination cases, comprising one payment each by the Army and RAF. An additional claim was settled in 2008-09 for £90,000 in respect of the previously operated MOD policy of debarring homosexuals from serving in the armed forces.
	In respect of civilian staff in the last 12 months, some £43,500 was paid to settle sexual discrimination cases. This figure includes one payment in respect of an age discrimination case the cost of which cannot be separately identified. One case, where bullying was alleged, was settled with £3,250 of compensation. Some £233,920 was paid to settle cases where other infringements of employment rights occurred.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2009,  Official Report, column 23W, on departmental internet, what the  (a) names and  (b) versions are of the web browsers used on the (i) desktop machines and (ii) laptop computers used by his Department's (A) Permanent Secretary, (B) chief information officer, (C) head of communications and (D) head of finance.

Quentin Davies: The name and version of the web browser used by the Ministry of Defence's Permanent Secretary, chief information officer, head of communications and head of finance, on their officially designated desktop and laptop computers, is Internet Explorer Version 6.

Departmental Manpower

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of employees in his Department are (a) women and (b) men; and what the average hourly pay is of those (i) male and (ii) female employees.

Kevan Jones: The percentage breakdown of employees by gender in the Department, as of 1 June 2009, is as follows:
	Men: 61.47 per cent
	Women: 38.53 per cent
	The average hourly pay rates between genders, as of 1 June 2009, is as follows:
	Male: £12.139
	Female: £10.368

Departmental Secondment

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees of his Department have been posted to work in offices of hon. Members of each political party in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: Civil servants are required to act in accordance with the requirements of the civil service code.
	Civil servants may shadow MPs as part of a programme run by the Industry and Parliament Trust. Details of numbers of civil servants from the Ministry of Defence who have undertaken such an attachment are not held centrally.

Ex-servicemen: Sleeping Rough

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department's Taskforce established to tackle rough sleeping among forces veterans has made; and what his most recent estimate is of the number of veterans sleeping rough at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: Service men and women should be provided with the best possible support as they move back to civilian life, and this is recognised in the Service Personnel Command Paper, The Nation's Commitment: Cross-Government Support to our Armed Forces, their Families and Veterans, published in July 2008.
	Measures proposed in the Command Paper to improve access of ex-Service personnel to housing include: a change in legislation to enable Service personnel to establish a local connection with the area in which they are serving; an investigation to see what steps are required to ensure that local authorities follow good practice in respect of 'cessation to occupy' certificates when service-leavers are threatened with homelessness; the consideration of how 'void' military accommodation can be used to temporarily accommodate injured ex-service personnel; and an extension to the Key Worker Living programme to ex-service personnel for up to 12 months after discharge.
	The Department does not hold figures on the number of veterans sleeping rough. However, independent research carried out, specifically in London, last year by the University of York shows that the proportion of veterans among the homeless population has fallen dramatically over the last 10 years. Veterans are now some 6 per cent. of the homeless population in London.
	The MOD works closely with the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) and the Devolved Administrations, veterans' organisations and other service providers to ensure a co-ordinated and structured approach to this problem as it affects a small minority of our ex-service personnel. We aim to prevent new service leavers becoming homeless and to provide an effective safety net for those veterans who are homeless.
	Current measures, including new commitments in the July 2008 Service Personnel Command Paper, provide a comprehensive package of support. Mike Jackson House provides 25 units of secure short-term supported accommodation built in Aldershot for young single ex-service leavers identified at risk of homelessness. Mike Jackson House opened in March 2008 on land gifted by MOD.
	There are service charities who are able to offer assistance with housing matters. The Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Families Association (SSAFA Forces Help) for example offer assistance and advice relating to housing needs

Gurkhas

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gurkhas were stationed in the UK in each year from 1992 to 1997.

Kevan Jones: The number of Gurkhas stationed in the UK in each year from 1992 to 1997 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Date of strength as at 31 March each year  Officers  Soldiers  Total 
			 1992 40 1,340 1,390 
			 1993 40 1,380 1,420 
			 1994 50 1,570 1,620 
			 1995 60 1,730 1,780 
			 1996 70 1,640 1,710 
			 1997 70 1,930 2,000 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. 2. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts. 
		
	
	Over the same period the trained strength of the Brigade of Gurkhas reduced from around 7,180 to 3,760, as the Brigade progressively withdrew from Hong Kong to be based in the UK. This process was completed on 1 July 1997.

Merlin Helicopters

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Merlin helicopters Agusta Westland has offered to supply to his Department; and  (a) at what cost and  (b) to what timetable Agusta Westland has offered to supply those helicopters.

Quentin Davies: During recent consideration of whether the acquisition of new medium helicopters could be advanced in lieu of the planned life-extension of Puma and Sea King Mk4 helicopters informal discussions were held with a number of aircraft manufacturers, including Agusta Westland. These discussions are commercial-in-confidence and so it would be inappropriate to disclose details as their disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

Military Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft of each type are in service with the Royal Air Force.

Quentin Davies: The number of aircraft in the Royal Air Force in-service fleet are provided in the following table. The figures show the service fleet position as of 30 June 2009.
	
		
			  In-service fleet 
			  Aircraft type  Number 
			 BAe 146 2 
			 BAe 125 6 
			 C-17 6 
			 Dominie 9 
			 Harrier 74 
			 Hawk T1 129 
			 Hawk T2 11 
			 Hercules CI30K 14 
			 Hercules CI30J 24 
			 Nimrod MR2 11 
			 Nimrod R1 3 
			 Sea King (SARF) 25 
			 Sentinel 5 
			 Sentry 7 
			 Tornado F3 62 
			 Tornado GR4 138 
			 Tristar 9 
			 Tucano 93 
			 Typhoon 56 
			 VC10 16 
			 Vigilant 64 
			 Viking 82

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters there are in the British armed forces.

Quentin Davies: The MOD departmental fleet consists of 585 helicopters as at 30 June 2009.
	This figure excludes helicopters that are leased by the MOD.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the maximum  (a) loaded weight and  (b) take-off weight for all variants of helicopters used by UK forces is when operating in ambient temperatures of 50 degrees celsius at a density altitude of 6,000 feet.

Quentin Davies: The operation of helicopters in hot conditions and at high altitudes, such as those experienced on current operations, is particularly demanding. Details of helicopter operating parameters, such as maximum loaded and take-off weights, is operationally sensitive information and cannot be released as it would or would be likely to prejudice the effectiveness and security of the armed forces.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters of each type are in service with each service.

Quentin Davies: "In service" has been taken to mean the effective fleet, which includes all aircraft barring those that are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal.
	The number of effective aircraft within each helicopter type and service, as at 30 June 2009 is provided in the following tables.
	
		
			  Royal Navy 
			   Number 
			 Lynx MK3/8 61 
			 Merlin Mk1 42 
			 Sea King Mk4/6C 42 
			 Sea King Mk5 15 
			 Sea King Mk7 13 
		
	
	
		
			  Army 
			   Number 
			 NSRW 4 
			 Apache 67 
			 Gazelle 39 
			 Lynx Mk7/9 94 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Air Force 
			   Number 
			 Chinook Mk2/2a 40 
			 Merlin Mk3/3a 28 
			 Puma 34 
			 Sea King Mk 3/3a 25 
		
	
	These figures do not include aircraft leased by the MOD.

Navy

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of operating a  (a) Type 22,  (b) Type 23 and  (c) Type 42 vessel was in the last year for which information is available; and what the estimated annual cost of operating a Type 45 vessel is.

Quentin Davies: Operating costs for Royal Navy vessels are not held centrally. Officials are, however, in the process of compiling this information and I will write to you once the work has been completed.

Nigeria: Military Aid

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received any recent requests for military assistance from the Nigerian government.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 June 2009,  Official Report, column 340W, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith).
	In addition we provide support to enhance the Nigerian peace-keeping capacity, advice on defence management, and professional officer education and training. We maintain a regular dialogue with Nigeria on defence and security matters.

Puma Helicopters

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how long after contract signature he expects the first upgraded Puma helicopter to be  (a) delivered and  (b) available for operational deployment;
	(2)  whether he has plans to deploy the upgraded Puma helicopter to Afghanistan.

Quentin Davies: We expect to place the Puma Life Extension contract with Eurocopter later this year, though this remains subject to negotiations and final approvals. It would not be appropriate to make public any specific details of the proposed programme schedule while negotiations are ongoing.
	It is for the chain of command to determine how many and which of their aircraft should be deployed and when.

Royal Hospital Haslar

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration he has given to the future use of the Royal Hospital Haslar site; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement published on 20 July 2009,  Official Report, column 95WS.
	The MOD ran an Expressions of Interest campaign earlier this year and a number of bids were received by the closing date. I have announced today that Our Enterprise, a community interest company that brokers and delivers bespoke commercial partnerships between charities, social investors, commercial operators and the public sector to deliver large-scale integrated regeneration projects, has been chosen as our preferred bidder for the site. Our Enterprise has been chosen as our preferred bidder for the site in accordance with Government policy on the disposal of historic buildings. We expect to exchange contracts with the purchaser and complete the transfer by the autumn, if not earlier.
	Our Enterprise has a vision of promoting the quality of life for both individuals residing on the site and for Gosport as a whole. I believe that the choice of preferred bidder for Haslar is good news for the local community, and will preserve the heritage and visual aspects of this important site.

Royal Military Academy: Foreigners

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign nationals of each nationality passed out from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2008.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is provided in the following tables. In accordance with MOD release protocols that protect us from unintentionally revealing the identity of an individual, any number less than five is represented by a asterisk (*) and any number equal to zero is represented by an Em dash (-).
	
		
			  Commonwealth and dual nationality officer cadets who commissioned into the British Army in 2006, 2007 and 2008 
			  Nationality/year  2006  2007  2008  Total 
			 Australian - - * * 
			 Canadian * - * * 
			 Citizen Irish Rep * * * 5 
			 Fijian - - * * 
			 German/British - - * * 
			 Ghanaian * - - * 
			 Indian - - * * 
			 Japanese/British - * - * 
			 Kenyan * * - * 
			 Nepalese/British - * - * 
			 New Zealander - * - * 
			 South African 5 5 5 15 
			 Trinidadian * - - * 
			 Zimbabwean * * * 5 
			 Total 15 12 14 41 
			 Grand total 41 
		
	
	
		
			  Overseas officer cadets who commissioned into a Foreign Army in 2006, 2007 and 2008 
			  Nationality/ year  2006  2007  2008  Total 
			 Afghan * * - * 
			 Algerian - * * * 
			 Antiguan * - - * 
			 Bahrain * * * 10 
			 Bangladeshi * - * * 
			 Belizean * * * * 
			 Botswana * * * * 
			 Brunei * * * 10 
			 Chinese - - * * 
			 Egyptian * - - * 
			 Ethiopian * - - * 
			 Fijian * - - * 
			 Filipino - * - * 
			 Gambian * - * * 
			 Ghanian - - * * 
			 Guatemalan * - - * 
			 Guyanese * - - * 
			 Iraqi * * * 5 
			 Jamaican * 5 * 15 
			 Jordanian * * * 5 
			 Kenyan * * * * 
			 Kuwaiti * 5 * 10 
			 Lesothian - * - * 
			 Malawian * * * * 
			 Malaysian * * - * 
			 Maltese * * * * 
			 Maldivian - - * * 
			 Namibian - - * * 
			 Nepalese * * * 5 
			 Nigerian * * * * 
			 Omani 5 * 5 15 
			 Pakistani * * * * 
			 Palestinian - - * * 
			 Qatar * - * * 
			 Rwandan - - * * 
			 Saudi Arabian * * * 5 
			 Senegalese * - * * 
			 Singaporean * * * * 
			 South African - * - * 
			 Sri Lankan * * - * 
			 Sudanese - - * * 
			 Tanzanian * - * * 
			 Thai * * - * 
			 U.A.E. 5 5 10 20 
			 Ugandan * * * * 
			 Yemeni * * - 5 
			 Total 67 54 64 185 
			 Grand total 185

Scotland

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to make a submission to the Scottish Executive's National Conversation consultation on Scotland's constitutional future.

Bill Rammell: The Ministry of Defence has not submitted evidence to the Scottish Government's National Conversation.
	The Commission on Scottish Devolution was established by majority vote in the Scottish Parliament and with the full support of the UK Government. UK Departments submitted evidence to the Commission during its first phase of evidence gathering.
	The Commission recently published its final report, which can be found at:
	http://www.commissiononscottishdevolution.org.uk/uploads/2009-06-12-csd-final-report-2009fbookmarked.pdf
	A Steering Group has been established under the Chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Scotland to help the UK Government and the Scottish Parliament plan how to take forward the Chairman's recommendations and deliver stronger devolution within a stronger United Kingdom.

Trident

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of conventional forces protecting Trident was in 2008-09.

Bob Ainsworth: We do not routinely calculate the operating cost of specific committed or contingent force elements in support of the deterrent, and such estimates are necessarily illustrative. The answer that my right hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Des Browne), as Defence Secretary, gave to the hon. Member on 8 March 2007,  Official Report, column 2131W, estimated the annual operating costs of committed conventional force elements to be around £25-30 million. We have not prepared a more recent estimate as to do so would incur disproportionate costs.

Trident

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on Trident II; and what his Department's estimate is of how much it would cost to order  (a) three and  (b) four boats to replace Trident I.

Bob Ainsworth: The current Trident II D5 missile is expected to remain in service until 2042. No expenditure has been incurred on a successor to the Trident II D5 missile.
	As set out in the 2006 White Paper, we estimate that the procurement costs of the replacement for the current Vanguard class submarines will be between £11-14 billion at 2006-07 prices. The total spent on the replacement submarine and associated propulsion system since the beginning of April 2007 to the end of June 2009 is some £250 million.
	Work is ongoing to assess whether continuous at sea deterrence could be achieved with a three boat fleet, and at what cost.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department has undertaken into the skill levels and qualifications required to fly unmanned aerial vehicles.

Kevan Jones: The UK's armed forces currently operate a range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Medium Altitude Long Endurance Reaper System is flown by fully qualified pilots following their completion of conversion training. Smaller systems, such as Hermes 450 and Desert Hawk, do not require the full range of pilot skills and can therefore be operated by non-pilots who have received specialist UAV training only.
	Several UK studies have been undertaken into current and future requirements for skill levels and qualifications for UAV operators as our capabilities in this area have developed. These include studies to define the skills and competences required to underpin operator selection and training and to derive formal standards for training programmes. This work is ongoing.

USA: Arms Trade

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the Defence Technology Transfer Treaty between the US and UK; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: Her Majesty's Government continue to discuss the Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty with the US Government at all levels. The Treaty still awaits ratification by the US Senate. The UK has worked hard to ensure that members of the Senate are aware of the importance the UK places on the Treaty and the benefits for both nations in operational and industrial terms. MOD and FCO officials in the British embassy in Washington regularly discuss Treaty implementation with their US colleagues in preparation for ratification.

White Phosphorus

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2009,  Official Report, column 1160W, what information his Department holds on munitions containing white phosphorus manufactured in the UK.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 21 July 2009
	The 120 mm white phosphorous shell is the only white phosphorous munition in the UK armed forces inventory manufactured in the UK. The inventory also includes the 60 mm and 81 mm white phosphorous mortar bombs, which are manufactured outside the UK.
	The Department holds a range of information on the 120 mm white phosphorous shell, as it does on all its munitions. This includes, but is not limited to, information on contracts, Through Life Management, safety, legality/International Humanitarian Law, composition, performance, storage, handling, transportation, training, in-service surveillance, stockpile, and usage.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Contracts

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contracts let by his Department were awarded to businesses with fewer than 50 employees in each of the last five years; and what the monetary value of such contracts was in each such year.

Dan Norris: The Department does not request or hold any central or local information on the number of staff in each of its suppliers. The number of staff in a supplier may vary over a period. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2009,  Official Report, column 386W, on departmental internet, what the  (a) names and  (b) versions are of the web browsers used on the (i) desktop machines and (ii) laptop computers used by his Department's (A) Permanent Secretary, (B) chief information officer, (C) head of communications and (D) head of finance.

Dan Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 July 2009,  Official Report, column 386W.
	All DEFRA staff, including the permanent secretary, chief information officer, head of communications and head of finance, are provided with Internet Explorer 7 on their desktop computers or laptops via our internal office system.

Scotland

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department plans to make a submission to the Scottish Executive's National Conversation consultation on Scotland's constitutional future.

Dan Norris: DEFRA has not submitted evidence to the Scottish Government's National Conversation.
	The Commission on Scottish Devolution was established by majority vote in the Scottish Parliament and with the full support of the UK Government. UK Departments submitted evidence to the Commission during its first phase of evidence gathering.
	The Commission recently published its Final Report, which can be found on the Commission on Scottish Devolution website.
	A steering group has been established under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Scotland to help the UK Government and the Scottish Parliament plan how to take forward the Calman recommendations and deliver stronger devolution within the United Kingdom.

Water Charges

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have accessed social tariff schemes in each water company area in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The number of customers accepted on to the vulnerable groups scheme by water companies in each of the last five years is set out in the following table.
	This will not strictly equal the number of customers currently on the tariff, owing to applications expiring during the year, bereavements, changes of occupancy and applications still being processed at year end.
	Ofwat only routinely collects these data for the compulsory vulnerable groups tariff (WaterSure), and not for any other social tariffs which individual companies may offer.
	
		
			  Total number of successful applications for vulnerable groups tariff 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Anglian and Hartlepool 682 719 904 3,385 3,068 
			 Dwr Cymru 319 426 580 899 1,070 
			 United Utilities 1,114 1,447 1,565 2,286 2,551 
			 Northumbrian and Essex and Suffolk 483 672 898 1,077 1,403 
			 Severn Trent 916 1,223 1,508 2,385 3,399 
			 South West 1,645 2,962 3,857 5,837 6,782 
			 Southern 258 324 280 197 641 
			 Thames 1,323 1,780 2,053 2,333 2,747 
			 Wessex 481 622 751 837 972 
			 Yorkshire and York 1,059 1,308 1,663 2,090 2,702 
			 Bournemouth and West Hampshire 118 96 222 274 381 
			 Bristol 211 391 478 511 620 
			 Cambridge 81 97 108 128 163 
			 Dee Valley 10 16 36 73 83 
			 Folkestone 33 42 106 176 270 
			 Portsmouth 24 30 30 43 73 
			 South East Water (including mid-Kent)(1) 229 217 143 249 156 
			  South East Water (excluding mid-Kent)  91  114  102  97  - 
			  Mid-Kent  138  103  41  152  - 
			 South Staffs 39 139 198 259 364 
			 Sutton and East Surrey 38 64 91 110 113 
			 Tendring Hundred 313 328 425 468 533 
			 Three Valleys 251 284 316 504 788 
			 Industry total 9,627 13,187 16,212 24,121 28,879 
			 (1) In 2007, South East Water absorbed mid-Kent water. The figures shown above for the new South East Water (including mid-Kent) until 2007-08 are a sum of the figures reported by the former separate companies. The split between the former companies is shown in italics for information. These figures do not contribute to the industry totals.

HEALTH

Brain Cancer

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the five-year survival rate for cases of brain cancer in each strategic health authority area was in each of the last six years;
	(2)  what the five-year survival rate for cases of brain cancer in each primary care trust within the ceremonial county of Hampshire was in each of the last six years.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2009:
	and (2) what the five-year survival rate for cases of brain cancer in each primary care trust within the ceremonial county of Hampshire was in each of the last six years [288891].
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not produce five-year survival rates for brain cancer for (1) strategic health authorities or (2) primary care organisations.
	The latest available survival figures for brain cancer for England, among adult patients diagnosed during 2001-2006 and followed up to the end of 2007, are published on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=14007&Pos=1&ColRank=1&Rank=192

Cardiovascular System: Children

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of cardiovascular failure in children was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The numbers of finished consultant episodes in English national health service hospitals or in independent hospitals but commissioned by the NHS in England where the primary diagnosis was cardiovascular failure for children for 2007-08, the last year for which figures were available were as in the following table.
	
		
			  Age group  Number of episodes 
			 Under 16 244 
			 16 to 18 25 
			  Notes:  Finished Consultant Episode (FCE) 1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. The figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year.  Primary diagnosis 2. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the FCE Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. 3. The ICD-10 codes used to identify Cardiovascular failure are as follows: I50.0 Congestive heart failure I50.1 Left ventricular failure I50.9 Heart failure, unspecified I11.0 Hypertensive heart disease with (congestive) heart failure I11.0 Hypertensive heart and renal disease with (congestive) heart failure I11.0 Hypertensive heart and renal disease with both (congestive) heart failure and renal failure P29.0 Neonatal cardiac failure 
			  Data quality 4. HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Ungrossed data 5. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in the data, i.e. the data are ungrossed.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Cardiovascular System: Children

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of mechanisms for identifying cardiovascular risk in children.

Ann Keen: We have made no recent assessment of mechanisms for identifying cardiac risk in children but we believe that lack of exercise and poor diet are major factors. We are attempting to address these through the Change 4 Life programme, launched in January of 2009.

Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food Consumer Products and the Environment

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment spent on external consultancy services in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and Environment has not employed external consultant services in the last five years.

Departmental Billing

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in June 2009.

Phil Hope: The formal data collection to measure performance against the Prime Minister's target of paying commercial suppliers within 10 days of receipt of a valid invoice is being coordinated across Government by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Data provided to BIS shows that in June 2009 96.39 per cent. of payments made by the Department of Health were made within 10 working days of receipt of the invoice.

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 2060W, on departmental electronic equipment, how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have spent on (i) flat screen televisions, (ii) DVD players and (iii) stereo equipment since November 2008.

Phil Hope: Comprehensive information on spend for flat screen televisions, DVD players and stereo equipment, since November 2008, is not held centrally and to collect it would incur disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2009,  Official Report, column 972W, on departmental internet, what the  (a) names and  (b) versions are of the web browsers used on the (i) desktop machines and (ii) laptop computers used by his Department's (A) Permanent Secretary, (B) chief information officer, (C) head of communications and (D) head of finance.

Phil Hope: The Department currently uses Internet Explorer Version 6 on the desktop and laptop computers it uses. This includes those used by the Permanent Secretary, the Chief Information Officer, the Head of Communications and the Head of Finance.
	The exception to this is the use of Mozilla Firefox Version 3.0.1.1 on a small number of desktop machines used by:
	the web publishing team, for compatibility with a web publishing system; and
	the information technology development team, for the purposes of testing our systems.

Departmental Manpower

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of employees in his Department are  (a) women and  (b) men; and what the average hourly pay of (i) male and (ii) female employees is.

Phil Hope: The percentage of employees in the Department who are women is 56 per cent. and the percentage who are men is 44 per cent.
	The average hourly rates of pay for men and women are presented in the following table.
	
		
			   Hourly  p ay (£)  
			  Type of average  Men  Women  Percentage difference 
			 Median 20.10 16.17 19.6 
			 Mean 22.06 19.03 13.7 
		
	
	Although median and mean hourly pay (excluding overtime as do the figures above) provide useful comparisons of men's and women's earnings, they do not reveal differences in rates of pay for comparable jobs. This is because such broad measures do not allow for the different employment characteristics of men and women, such as the proportion in different occupations and their length of time in jobs.

NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of the office premises for the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement was in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: This is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Premises  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Coventry House at University of Warwick 325,690 414,922 434,441 397,615 414,922 
			 Victoria House, London 110,117 163,371 147,355 207,581 233,098 
			 Manchester, Gateway House 30,636 32,632 40,015 34,638 30,944 
			 Birmingham, Birmingham Hospital 37,452 38,864 37,835 37,426 37,558 
			 Total 503,895 649,789 659,646 677,260 716,522

Out of Area Treatment

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in each primary care trust (PCT) area received referrals to consultant specialists based in a different PCT area in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The available data on number of patients in each primary care trust (PCT) area that received referrals to consultant specialists based in a different PCT area in each of the last five years are shown in the document, referrals to consultant specialists based in a different primary care trust area, provided by the NHS Information Centre, which has been placed in the Library.

Out of Area Treatment: South West

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients from Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust area did not keep an appointment following a referral to an out of county consultant specialist in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not held centrally. However, the number of out-patient appointments from Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust where a patient did not attend or cancelled an appointment following a referral to an in county or out of county consultant specialist in each of the last five years has been placed in the Library.

Out of Area Treatment: South West

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients from Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust area have been referred to out of county consultant specialists in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not held centrally. However, the number of out-patient appointments for patients resident in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust area who received referrals to out of county consultant specialists in each of the last five years has been placed in the Library.

Parkinson's Disease: Consultants

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of professionals in the NHS available to deliver high quality care to patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Ann Keen: Professionals working in this area of patient care are not identified separately in the National Health Service Workforce Census.

Scotland

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to make a submission to the Scottish Executive's National Conversation consultation on Scotland's constitutional future.

Mike O'Brien: The Department has not submitted evidence to the Scottish Government's National Conversation.
	The Commission on Scottish Devolution was established by majority vote in the Scottish Parliament and with the full support of the United Kingdom Government. UK Departments submitted evidence to the Commission during its first phase of evidence gathering.
	The Commission recently published its final report, which can be found here:
	www.commissiononscottishdevolution.org.uk/uploads/20090612csdfinalreport2009fbookmarked.pdf
	A steering group has been established under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Scotland to help the UK Government and the Scottish Parliament plan how to take forward the Calman recommendations and deliver stronger devolution within a stronger UK.

PRIME MINISTER

Civil Service: Bullying

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister what Civil Service procedures govern the handling of complaints of bullying of civil servants by Ministers.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	Complaints made by civil servants of bullying are dealt in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code which can be accessed online at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/work/codes/csmc/index.aspx

TRANSPORT

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1566W, on departmental electronic equipment, how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have spent on (i) flat screen televisions, (ii) DVD players and (iii) stereo equipment since November 2008.

Chris Mole: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   (i) Flat screen televisions  (ii) DVD players  (iii) Stereo equipment 
			  (a)  Department 2,556 0 0 
			  (b) Agencies 13,346 55 0 
		
	
	This excludes spend at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency as the requested information is not recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Postal Services

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department spent on Royal Mail services in each of the last two years.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport spent £21,419,317.41 on Royal Mail services in 2007-08 and £22,348,405.74 on Royal Mail services in 2008-09.
	This excludes spend at the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency as the information requested is not recorded.

Departmental

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on foreign language training for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on training in coping with traumatic incidents for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on pre-retirement courses for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(4)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on stress management training for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(5)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on training in mentoring for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(6)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on personal  (a) development and  (b) effectiveness courses for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(7)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on talent management training for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(8)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on health and safety training for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(9)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on avoiding harassment and anti-bullying courses for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(10)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on training relating to the European Union for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(11)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on absence management training for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(12)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on diversity awareness training for its officials in each year since 1997;
	(13)  how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on training in telephone skills for its officials in each year since 1997.

Chris Mole: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Work Experience

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what provision is made to enable students to undertake work experience in his Department; how members of the public may obtain information about work experience in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport takes part in the Summer Development and the Summer Placement intern programmes which are administered by the Cabinet Office. These schemes are aimed (respectively) at ethnic minority and disabled undergraduates/graduates interested in the Fast Stream development programme.
	The Department also employs a number of economist summer interns each year through the Government Economics Service central recruitment process.
	The schemes are advertised on the civil service website, the Government Economic Service website and university and graduate websites. They are also promoted at career fairs.

Scotland

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department plans to make a submission to the Scottish Executive's National Conversation consultation on Scotland's constitutional future.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has not submitted evidence to the Scottish Government's National Conversation.
	The Commission on Scottish Devolution was established by majority vote in the Scottish Parliament and with the full support of the UK Government. UK Departments submitted evidence to the Commission during its first phase of evidence gathering.
	The Commission recently published its Final Report, which can be found at:
	http://www.commissiononscottishdevolution.org.uk/uploads/2009-06-12-csd-final-report-2009-bookmarked.pdf
	A steering group has been established under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Scotland to help the UK Government and the Scottish Parliament plan how to take forward the Calman recommendations and deliver stronger devolution within a stronger United Kingdom.

WALES

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1066W, on departmental electronic equipment, how much his Department has spent on  (a) flat screen televisions,  (b) DVD players and  (c) stereo equipment since November 2008.

Peter Hain: Expenditure during this period amounts to £79.99 which was for a replacement digital radio. There has been no other expenditure on such equipment during this period.

Economic Situation

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to meet the First Minister to discuss ways to deal with the economic downturn.

Peter Hain: I have regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss the economic situation in Wales, continuing the dialogue and close working relationship that my right hon. Friend developed. Indeed, I last met the First Minister at the 7(th) All Wales Economic Summit on Friday 17 July 2009 in Bangor.

Employment Schemes

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the £5 billion of funding to create new jobs and assist people back into work, as referred to in paragraph 40 in chapter 2, page 43 of Building Britain's Future, Cm 7654, will be available in Wales.

Peter Hain: We are investing an extra £5 billion to help people back into work across the UK. The £3 billion investment in Jobcentre Plus will enable the recruitment of 600 additional advisers in Wales by the end of the year.
	The £1 billion Future Jobs Fund has already approved 10 bids for funding from organisations in Wales which were announced on 29 July 2009. These bids will create over 2,000 jobs and are a demonstration of our determination to deliver the help that people need where and when they need it most.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what schemes the Government has made available to families in Wales who face mortgage repossessions.

Peter Hain: The UK Government have a number of initiatives to help Welsh homeowners-the Support for Mortgage Interest Scheme and the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme, both apply in Wales. In addition, we have also put in place a number of other measures, including new court protocols to protect homeowners, secured commitments from major lenders not to repossess homes within three months of arrears and have invested a further £25 million to extend free debt advice. All of these measures are available to consumers across the country.
	The Welsh Assembly Government also provides support to struggling homeowners, through the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.

Public Expenditure

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with  (a) the Welsh Assembly Government and  (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Holtham Commission report.

Peter Hain: The Welsh Assembly Government established an Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales, headed by Gerald Holtham. The Commission published their first report 'Funding devolved government in Wales: Barnett and Beyond' on 7 July 2009. I have discussed the recommendations contained within the report with both the First Minister and Gerald Holtham.
	As this is a Welsh Assembly Government commissioned review, we await their response to the report and look forward to the final report to be published next year.

Recycling

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of his Department's waste was recycled in the latest period for which figures are available.

Peter Hain: The last period for which figures are available covers January to March 2009. During this period, the Wales Office recycled 84 per cent. of its waste.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Contracts

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many contracts let by her Department were awarded to businesses with fewer than 50 employees in each of the last five years; and what the monetary value of such contracts was in each such year.

Michael Jabez Foster: During financial year 2008-09, the Government Equalities Office awarded 45 contracts to businesses with fewer than 50 members of staff. The total monetary value of these contracts was £526,460.96
	The Government Equalities Office became a stand alone department in October 2007 so no data are available for previous years.

Travelling People

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment has been made of the effect of the new duties on public authorities in the Equality Bill on Travellers' access to public services.

Michael Jabez Foster: Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are covered by the existing race duty as recognised ethnic groups, and will continue to be covered as part of that strand in the forthcoming Equality Duty. This should mean public bodies considering the needs of all groups, including Irish Travellers, when taking decisions and planning services.
	When the Bill was published, Government Equalities Office officials assessed the potential impact of the provisions in the Equality Bill, including plans for the Equality Duty, upon stakeholders. The assessment and its conclusions were published. That assessment concluded that the introduction of the Equality Duty would not have any adverse impact on different racial groups.
	The other public sector duty in the Equality Bill, covering socio-economic inequalities, should benefit travellers, many of whom suffer significant levels of socio-economic disadvantage.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Absenteeism: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many cases of unauthorised absence from school were recorded in  (a) the North East,  (b) Tees Valley and  (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The available information is shown in the table. Further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools( 1,2)  number and percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence 2003-04  to  2007-08( 3) 
			   North East  Tees Valley  Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency 
			   Total half days missed due to unauthorised absence  Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence( 4)  Total half days missed due to unauthorised absence  Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence( 4)  Total half days missed due to unauthorised absence  Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence( 4) 
			 2007-08 801,580 0.83 269,050 1.02 39,660 1.21 
			 2006-07 809,630 0.81 289,430 1.04 (5)- (5)- 
			
			 2005-06  788,110  0.77  247,180  0.90 ( 5) - ( 5) - 
			 2004-05  708,070  0.67  266,810  0.92 ( 5) - ( 5) - 
			 2003-04  685,750  0.62  229,190  0.75 ( 5) - ( 5) - 
			 (1) Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). (2) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (3) Figures in italics have been sourced from the Absence in Schools Survey. Other figures are derived from the School Census. (4) The number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions. (5) Not readily available. To provide further information would incur disproportionate cost.  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  Absence in Schools Survey and School Census (3)

Advanced Skills Teachers

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many advanced skills teachers there were in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2008 and  (d) 2009.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table provides the headcount number of full and part-time advanced skills teachers in service in local authority maintained schools in England, January 2006 to 2009.
	
		
			  Full and part-time head count number of advanced skills  teachers (ASTs) in service in the local authority maintained  sector( 1) -20009-09: England 
			   ASTs 
			 2006 4,010 
			 2007 4,060 
			 2008(2) 4,300 
			 2009(3) 4,030 
			 (1) The figures exclude academies and CTCs because they are not funded by Las and therefore not part of the 618g collection. (2 )This figure is approximately 200 too high because a small number of local authorities overstated the numbers of ASTs they employed in 2008. (3) Provisional.  Source: Annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies (618g).

Children: Disabled

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will develop a national strategy for the inclusion of children with disabilities into society, based on the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have taken action to promote an inclusive society in which disabled children will play a full part. We ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons on 8 June. Further, we outlined in the Children's Plan our desire to make Britain the best place for all children and young people to realise their full potential, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.
	We have legislated to ensure that disabled children and young people are not discriminated against and are actively encouraged by their school to participate in school life and in the local community. We amended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to require public bodies (including schools and local authorities) to increase access to the curriculum and school premises over time for disabled students by making reasonable adjustments.
	The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 has also been amended to place a general duty on all public bodies, when carrying out their functions to have due regard to the need to: promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and other people; eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; eliminate harassment of disabled people that is related to their disability; promote positive attitudes by disabled people in public life; and take steps to meet disabled people's needs, even if this requires more favourable treatment. Additionally, public bodies have a specific duty to work with disabled people to develop, implement and publish a disability equality scheme outlining how the general duty will be met.

Children: Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people have been added to the barred list maintained under the Protection of Children Act 1999 by the Independent Saefguarding Authority since January 2009.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21 July 2009,  Official Report, columns 1408W and 1443W.

EU Law

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the statutory obligations upon it provided for in legislation introduced as a consequence of obligations arising from EU legislation in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department for Children, Schools and Families has not carried out an estimate of the proportion of statutory obligations deriving from EU law within its policy remit. The key policy areas within the Department's remit (education in schools, children's social care and substantive family law) fall outside Community competence.

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils eligible to sit a  (a) mathematics,  (b) English and  (c) science GCSE in 2007 were not entered for an examination in each subject.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  GCSE attempts of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4: England 2006-07 
			  Subject  Number of pupils eligible for subject  Number of pupils entered for subject  Number of pupils not entered for subject 
			 Mathematics 649,200 616,900 32,300 
			 English 649,200 619,500 29,700 
			 Science 649,200 599,700 49,500 
			 * All figures to nearest 100. 
		
	
	These figures are derived from the Statistical First Release: GCSE and Equivalent Examination Results in England 2006-07 (Revised) at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000768/index.shtml

Glasgow

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to visit Glasgow on official business during the summer adjournment.

Dawn Primarolo: The Secretary of State currently has no plans to visit Glasgow on official business during the summer adjournment.

Head Teachers: Age

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average age of headteachers in maintained schools was at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: In March 2008, the latest period for which information is available, the average age of full-time head teachers in service in local authority maintained schools in England was 50. This figure is from the Database of Teacher Records and is provisional.

National Curriculum Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families at how many and what proportion of primary schools  (a) 25 per cent. or more and  (b) 50 per cent. or more of pupils did not achieve a Level 4 or above in reading, writing and mathematics in their Key Stage 2 tests in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Offences against Children: Internet

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) funding,  (b) materials and  (c) other support his Department provides for children who have experienced online abuse.

Dawn Primarolo: Details on the funding, materials and support made available specifically for the victims of online child abuse are not held centrally.
	However, expenditure on children's social care in England has increased from £2.218 billion in 1997-98 to £5.728 billion in 2008-09. This is a real terms increase of over 90 per cent., which equates to an average real terms increase of 6.1 per cent. per annum. In addition, the Government are investing £130 million in social work reform over the full spending review period including £109 million in the next two years of which £57.8 million is additional new investment as part of the Government's detailed response to Lord Laming's Report.
	The Department of Health also makes available to local authorities £100.045 million in 2009-10 for child and adolescent mental health services through the local authority area based grant. It is for local authorities to determine how to use those resources in order to deliver local and national priorities in their areas. These grants account for less than 20 per cent. of spend on CAMHS and the actual reported spend on CAMHS increased by 62 per cent. between 2003-04 and 2006-07 to £523 million (latest available figure) when NHS spending is considered also.
	Statutory guidance contained in 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' explains the procedures to be followed if somebody has concerns about the welfare of a child and in particular has concerns that a child may be suffering, or may be at risk of suffering, significant harm. Chapter 5 sets out the principles that underpin work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Where online abuse is concerned children and or parents can seek support from children's social care.
	In addition, the Government have committed £30 million to the NSPCC's Childline services which offers trusted 1:1 counselling to children. The money will allow the NSPCC to expand their services significantly and improve them so that more children can be given the advice and help that can be so important.

Pupil Exclusions: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many exclusions from schools there have been in each year group in  (a) Test Valley Borough and  (b) Southampton in each of the last three years; and how many of those pupils who were excluded were also (i) cautioned for and (ii) charged with criminal offences.

Dawn Primarolo: The available information on the number of exclusions (not the number of students) is shown in the table.
	Data on permanent exclusions are available for the full period requested. Data on fixed period exclusions were collected for the first time in 2003-04 via the Termly Exclusions Survey. Since 2005-06 collection has been via the School Census, but in that first year was for secondary schools only, therefore, comparable information for fixed period exclusions in 2005-06 is not available. In 2006-07, collection was extended to primary and special schools.
	Information for Test Valley Borough could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Statistics are not collected by the Department on the numbers of pupils that have been cautioned or charged for criminal activity.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools( 1, 2, 3) : Number of exclusions by age, Southampton LA: 2004-05 to 2007-08 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Number of exclusions  Permanent exclusions( 4)  Fixed period exclusions  Permanent exclusions( 4)  Permanent exclusions( 4)  Fixed period exclusions  Permanent exclusions( 4)  Fixed period exclusions 
			 Age (5):
			 4 and under 0 10 0 0 x 0 0 
			 5 0 20 0 0 10 0 10 
			 6 0 20 x 0 40 0 20 
			 7 0 70 x 0 70 0 60 
			 8 x 90 0 0 90 0 40 
			 9 x 140 0 x 130 x 120 
			 10 x 160 x x 160 x 120 
			 11 x 290 x 10 550 x 350 
			 12 10 560 x 10 600 x 550 
			 13 x 620 10 10 780 10 760 
			 14 10 630 10 10 860 10 740 
			 15 x 300 x 0 540 10 460 
			 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 x 
			 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 x 
			 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 19 and over 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 30 2,890 30 40 3,820 40 3,240 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes both CTCs and academies (including all-through academies). Information is as reported by schools. (3) Includes maintained special schools. Non-maintained special schools are included from 2006-07. (4) Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil-level data. (5) Age as at 31 August.  Notes: 1. x less than 5. 2. Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Schools: Absence

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many cases of unauthorised absence from school were recorded in  (a) Hemel Hempstead constituency,  (b) Dacorum,  (c) Hertfordshire and  (d) the South East in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The available information is shown in the table. Further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools( 1, 2)  number and percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence 2003-04 - 2007-08( 3) 
			   Hemel Hempstead constituency  Dacorum  Hertfordshire  South East 
			   Total half days missed due to unauthorised absence  Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence( 4)  Total half days missed due to unauthorised absence  Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence( 4)  Total half days missed due to unauthorised absence  Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence( 4)  Total half days missed due to unauthorised absence  Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence( 4) 
			 2007-08 30,210 0.81 (5)- (5)- 307,380 0.73 2,812,270 0.95 
			 2006-07 (5)- (5)- (5)- (5)- 318,620 0.74 2,729,370 0.90 
			 2005-06 (5)- (5)- (5)- (5)- 281,050 0.66 2,580,910 0.84 
			 2004-05 (5)- (5)- (5)- (5)- 243,780 0.56 2,307,730 0.75 
			 2003-04 (5)- (5)- (5)- (5)- 240,980 0.54 2,044,600 0.65 
			 (1) Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). (2) Includes maintained and non maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (3) Figures in italics have been sourced from the Absence in Schools Survey. Other figures are derived from the School Census. (4) The number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions. (5) Not readily available. To provide further information would incur disproportionate cost.  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Absence in Schools Survey and School Census(3)

Schools: Wakefield

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average class size was in Wakefield local authority area for  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools (i) in 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Average class size in Wakefield local authority area 
			  School type  1997  2008 
			 Primary 28.2 26.2 
			 Secondary 22.2 21.8 
			  Notes:  1. Classes as taught by one teacher on the day of the Census in January.  2. The 1997 figures exclude the three middle schools that existed in Wakefield local authority at that time.  3. In 2008 there were no middle schools in Wakefield local authority.   Source:  School Census. 
		
	
	More detailed information can be found in the 'Pupil Characteristics and Class Sizes in Maintained Schools in England (tables B12 and B14)' Statistical First Release:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000786/LATablesWeb.xls

Schools: Wakefield

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average spend per head in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in Wakefield local authority area was in (i) 1997 and (ii) in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The available information on the average spend per head in primary and secondary schools in Wakefield local authority in 1997 and the last 12 months is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  School based expenditure per pupil in local authority maintained schools in Wakefield in 1997-98 and 2007-08 
			   1997-98  2007-08 
			   Pre-primary and primary education  Secondary education  Primary education  Secondary education 
			 Wakefield 1,560 2,150 3,590 4,340 
			  Notes: 1. School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. 2. 1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the Section 52 form from the DCSF (then DfES). 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. From 2002-03 school based expenditure is taken from Section 52 Outturn Table A line 51 net current expenditure (NCE). For 2001-02 and earlier years the expenditure is calculated as lines 1 to 12 less lines 29, 30, 35 and 37. This differs from the old Net Institutional Expenditure (NIE) calculation only in the treatment of meals and milk which is no longer excluded and no adjustments for balances are now made. This is taken from Section 52 Outturn Table 3 for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 and from the RO1 form previously. 3. The calculation for 2002-03 onwards is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. 4. Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending maintained establishments within each sector and are drawn from the DCSF Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis. 5. Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 1999-2000. 6. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 and in cash terms.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Post Office Card Account

Frank Field: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made in the discussions between Xafinity Paymaster and the Post Office on the payment of armed forces pensions into the Post Office Card Account.

Kevan Jones: I have been asked to reply.
	I will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested shortly.
	 Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Frank Field:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 13 July (Official Report, column 506W), asking for a progress update about discussions between Xafinity Paymaster and the Post Office concerning the payment of armed forces pensions into the Post Office Card Account.
	In order for the MOD or Xafinity Paymaster to introduce a POCA facility for Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) payments a new contractual agreement between MOD and the Post Office for this provision would be required. This would incur significant set up costs, as well as higher ongoing costs, especially as the MOD volumes would be significantly lower than those which enabled DWP to negotiate the current rate. The Service Personnel Veterans Agency (SPVA) will continue, as always, to work closely with Xafinity Paymaster to ensure that we provide our customers with services that are both convenient and represent value for money.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Departmental Land

Nick Gibb: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2009,  Official Report, column 40W, on departmental land, to what purposes the £59.7 million of capital receipts obtained by the Church Commissioners following the sale of agricultural land in 2007 has been allocated.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners do not ring-fence capital receipts for specific purposes. Receipts are reinvested with the aim of maximising the fund's long-term total return in support of the Commissioners' various responsibilities. These include meeting clergy pension commitments and providing maximum sustainable funding for bishops and cathedrals as well as parish mission and ministry support.

Departmental Land

Nick Gibb: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2009,  Official Report, column 40W, on departmental land, what the rate of return was on  (a) the £59.7 million of capital receipts obtained by the Church Commissioners following the sale of agricultural land in 2007 and  (b) agricultural assets retained by the Church Commissioners in the same period.

Stuart Bell: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) As the Commissioners do not ring-fence capital receipts, it is not possible to state the return on the capital receipts obtained by them from a specific transaction.
	 (b) I can, however, tell the hon. Gentleman that the total return on the Commissioners' assets in 2007 was 9.4 per cent. The total return on the rural holdings was 36.6 per cent. which included sales significantly above valuation.

Departmental Land

Nick Gibb: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2009,  Official Report, column 40W, on departmental land, what the monetary value is of the assets in which the £59.7 million of capital receipts obtained by the Church Commissioners following the sale of agricultural land in 2007 was invested.

Stuart Bell: Because the Commissioners pursue a total return investment strategy rather than ring-fencing receipts for specific reinvestment or expenditure, it is not possible to give a monetary value for the capital receipt obtained by the specific transaction to which the hon. Gentleman refers.

Departmental Land

Nick Gibb: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners 
	(1)  how many tenanted agricultural holdings with rights of succession under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 were sold in whole or in part following the death or retirement of the previous tenant in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many tenanted agricultural holdings with rights of succession under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 were re-let in whole or in part as farm business tenancies to  (a) individuals unconnected to previous tenant family and  (b) members of the previous tenant's families following the death or retirement of the previous tenant in each of the last five years.

Stuart Bell: None.

Departmental Land

Nick Gibb: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many tenanted agricultural holdings with rights of succession under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 had successful successions following the death or retirement of the previous tenant of those holdings in each of the last five years.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners do not record succession data.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Allotments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to ensure that district authorities in Lancashire publish their waiting lists for local authority-provided allotments; what recent assessment he has made of local authorities' performance in the provision of allotments; and what formula his Department provides for local authorities to determine the number of allotments each should provide;
	(2)  if he will estimate the number of allotments which each district authority in Lancashire should provide under the formula prepared by his Department; and if he will estimate the number of allotments each such local authority provides.

Shahid Malik: Local authorities are responsible for keeping and managing waiting lists for allotments they provide. We have no plans to direct local authorities to publish their waiting lists.
	Information on the number of allotments provided by local authorities is not held centrally. The provision of allotments is the responsibility of local authorities; Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 places a duty on local authorities (except for inner London boroughs) to provide allotments where they perceive a demand for them in their area.
	Government do not provide a formula for local authorities to determine the number of allotments they should provide. However, the Planning Policy Guidance Note 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation 2002 (PPG17) requires local authorities to make provision for all types of open space and requires them to undertake robust assessments of local needs and audits of existing open space, to establish standards for new provision. Setting national standards for provision cannot cater for local circumstances, such as differing demographic profiles and the extent of building development in an area. The accompanying guidance to PPG17 advises local authorities on setting local standards.
	A revised good practice guide, "Growing in the Community", was published by the Local Government Association in March 2008, and includes a section on allotment provision and how to assess the need for allotments as outlined in PPG17.

Building Regulations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contraventions of Part L of the Building Regulations have been identified in each year since 2000; how many of these were resolved before project completion; and how many of those unresolved at project completion resulted in prosecution.

Shahid Malik: Enforcement of compliance with the Building Regulations is undertaken by local authorities. There is no central register of enforcement notices served or prosecutions brought. In the main, local authorities aim to resolve issues that arise through inspection of and advice to those undertaking work. Enforcement notices and prosecution are only used as a last resort.
	The consultation on revising Part L in 2010 published on 18 June included proposals for specifically improving compliance. The consultation paper can be accessed via the link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/partlf2010consultation

Building Regulations Advisory Committee

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent employees the Building Regulations Advisory Committee employs; what its budget for 2009-10 is; and how much it will receive in support from his Department in 2009-10.

Shahid Malik: The Building Regulations Advisory Committee has no full time employees. The Committee's budget for 2009-10 is £20,000 which is funded by the Department and used for members' expenses and the essential costs of its meetings. The Department also provides the Committee's secretariat and its resources for this comprise the equivalent of approximately three-quarters of a full-time post.

Council Housing: Construction

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authority housing units have been  (a) started and  (b) completed in the last 12 months.

Shahid Malik: 330 local authority dwellings were started, and 520 local authority dwellings were completed in England in the 2008-09 financial year.
	The latest statistics on house building starts and completions in England were published in the Communities and Local Government Statistics Release of 21 May 2009 and accompanying live tables. The web links are shown as follows:
	 Link to House Building Statistics Release:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/housebuildingql2009
	 Link to House Building Live Tables:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding/livetables/

Council Housing: Fire Prevention

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter sent by his Department's Head of Housing to each local authority following the Lakanal House fire.

John Healey: I have arranged for the letter to Chief Executives in all local authorities to be placed in the Library of the House.
	The enclosures to the letter can be found on the Communities website at
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/camberwellupdate

Council Tax: Debt Collection

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions each local authority in England  (a) issued a court order and  (b) authorised bailiff action in respect of council tax arrears in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: Communities and Local Government does not collect this information.

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1128W, on departmental electronic equipment, how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have spent on (i) flat screen televisions, (ii) DVD players and (iii) stereo equipment since November 2008.

Shahid Malik: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Department spent the following on these commodities since November 2008:
	i. £6,360 on two flat screen televisions and associated equipment
	ii. £0 on DVD players
	iii. £0 on stereo equipment.
	 (b) The Department's agencies spent the following on these commodities since November 2008:
	i. £1,350 on flat screen televisions
	ii. £582 on DVD players
	iii. £0 on stereo equipment.

Departmental Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the proposals contained in the Draft Legislative Programme 2009, what changes will be made to the programme budgets of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in order to finance the £1.5 billion housing package; what proportion of the package will be funded by his Department; and over what timescale.

Shahid Malik: Details of the funding package for the £1.5 billion housing pledge announced in Building Britain's Future were announced on 17 July:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1286956

Departmental ICT

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what projects involving information technology elements being sponsored by his Department and its agencies are  (a) behind schedule and  (b) overbudget.

Shahid Malik: The criteria set out in the question currently apply to several CLG projects as follows.
	 Communities and Local Government (including the regional co-ordination unit and Government offices in the regions)
	FiReControl: The FiReControl project is a business change project with an IT component. On 15 July 2009 I announced a 10 month rescheduling of the project. The IT costs will remain the same although total costs might increase as a result of the extended delivery schedule.
	FireLink: The Firelink project is primarily providing a radio system for the Fire and Rescue Service, and contains a small element of IT. Completion of the roll-out is scheduled for April 2010 compared to the previously published completion date of December 2009. The whole life project costs remain on target.
	 Planning Inspectorate
	Charging for Appeals: This project, originally for delivery by April 2009, has been re-planned, and split into two stages. This recognises the time needed for the charging regime to be developed and consulted on. Stage 1 is expected to be complete by October 2009, and stage 2 by April 2010. Costs are increasing by £65,000 as a result.

Departmental Manpower

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of employees in his Department are  (a) women and  (b) men; and what the average hourly pay of (i) male and (ii) female employees is.

Shahid Malik: The workforce of Communities and local Government is 50.58 per cent. female and 49.42 per cent. male.
	Data on Civil Service pay, including average pay for men and women, can be found in the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey statistics published by ONS at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/cds0109.pdf
	Please note the ONS collects the annual gross salary of civil servants and does not produce hourly rates of pay.

Departmental Pay

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) salaries,  (b) benefits in kind and  (c) payments for expenses each of his Department's non-executive directors have received in the last 24 months.

Rosie Winterton: Non-executive members of the board are not employees of the Department, and do not therefore receive salaries. Rather, each receives a fee of £10,000 per year. As agreed on a case-by-case basis, however, this fee may be paid to the employer and not to the individual as reimbursement for their time spent on non-executive business. (Within the last 24 months, this has applied for Sir Bob Kerslake, a former board member and formerly chief executive of Sheffield city council; and Rob Vincent, the chief executive of Kirklees council and a current board member.)
	No non-executive board member has received any benefits in kind during the last 24 months.
	Non-executive board members are entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable expenses properly and necessarily incurred in respect of their appointment. Payments made to individual non-executive board members between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2009 are summarised in the following table. All business expenses reimbursed to non-executive board members, and also to senior civil servants at the director general and above level, from 1 April 2009 onwards will be published quarterly.
	
		
			  £ 
			   2007-08  2008-09 
			 Peter Doyle 1,094.13 337.60 
			 Sir Bob Kerslake 2,886.81 442 
			 Sarah Weir 79.40 0 
			 Polly Cochrane 0 157 
			 Rob Vincent 0 2,007.83 
		
	
	On occasion, the Department also books travel and accommodation for all board members and incurs that expenditure centrally.

Departmental Recruitment

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which posts filled by his Department in the last three months were not advertised on either his Department's public website or the public part of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway; and what the job title and remit of each such vacancy was.

Rosie Winterton: Staff are from time to time recruited through limited competition on a time-limited basis to provide additional expertise and capacity as required, and are not permanent civil servants who can only be appointed through fair and open competition.
	20 posts were not advertised and were filled through limited competition (including three student placements). The job title and remit for the remaining 17 posts are as follows:
	Project Adviser-Local Analysis and Delivery Unit;
	Marketing Assistant-Planning Portal;
	Lawyer-Legal Directorate;
	Grade 6-Residential Property Tribunal Service;
	Team Leader-Olympics Legacy Planning and Delivery;
	Personal Assistant, Strategy and Performance;
	Development Team Admin.-Planning Portal;
	HR Communications Manager;
	Research Assistant-Planning Portal;
	HR Helpdesk Operator;
	Workforce Equalities Team Member;
	Policy Adviser-Local Government Restructuring;
	HR Management Information Manager;
	Deputy Director-Communities Futures;
	Policy Adviser-Strategy and Performance;
	Executive Officer-Total Place;
	HR Resourcing Manager.

Departmental Recruitment

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many job vacancies have been filled in his Department in the last 12 months; and how many of them were advertised on  (a) his Department's public website and  (b) the public part of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway.

Shahid Malik: 270 job vacancies were filled in the Department in the last 12 months, and most were filled internally. 82 job vacancies were advertised externally. A high proportion of external adverts are for specialist and senior roles. Advertising methods are chosen to ensure a strong field of candidates. It is standard procedure to advertise all external vacancies (below SCS level) on the public part of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway and on the Department's public website, in addition to the use of other means such as Local Employment Partnerships and Jobcentre Plus.

Departmental Work Experience

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provision is made to enable students to undertake work experience in his Department; by what means members of the public may obtain information about work experience in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: This year Communities and Local Government has offered internships to Greenwich university students, under/recent graduates from the ADAB Trust and students from the Cabinet Office Summer Development programme for Ethnic Minorities and Summer Placements scheme for disabled students. In addition we have taken on summer students and sandwich students via the Government Economic Service and Legal Directorate has offered summer placements to legal trainees.
	Members of the public may obtain information about work experience opportunities from a variety of sources including the contact phone number and email address found on the Communities and Local Government website.

Eco-Towns: Construction

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to page 122 of the Draft Legislative Programme 2009-10, whether his Department's target to build five eco-towns by 2016 remains in place.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 16 July 2008,  Official Report, column 42WS, on eco-towns and zero carbon homes, which sets out the first locations with potential to have an eco-town and our aims and proposals for the further development of eco-towns.

Energy Performance Certificates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 8 July 2009,  Official Report, column 902W, on energy performance certificates and home information packs, what the reasons are for the difference between the period of validity of energy performance certificates  (a) included in and  (b) not included in home information packs.

John Healey: The reasons were set out in paragraphs 7.1-7.3 of the Explanatory Memorandum to The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment No.2) Regulations 2008 which can be viewed online at
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/em/uksiem_20082363_en.pdf

Fire Service College

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the net cost to the public purse of the Fire Service College is; and whether an assessment has been made of the potential for increasing its commercial revenue.

Shahid Malik: In 2008-09 the expenditure of the Fire Service College was £23.840 million, which it funded from £21.579 million income and £2.261 million reserves. It was unable to pay the required dividend (net of loan interest) of £1.521 million.
	Over the past year the Department and College management team have jointly carried out a detailed review of all aspects of the College's business to determine how it could continue to meet the training and development needs of the Fire and Rescue Service on a financially sustainable basis. This review looked at building College income through growing current market share and developing new public and private sector markets and products and concluded that financial sustainability could be achieved in 2010-11.

Homes and Communities Agency: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the budget for the Homes and Communities Agency for 2009-10 is.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 June 2009,  Official Report, column 202W.

Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1002W, on housing, on what dates the Working Group on Condition Information in the Home Buying and Selling Process has met since 23 March 2009; what was discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Working Group on Condition Information in the Home Buying and Selling Process has met twice since 23 March 2009, on 19 May and 13 July. This work is ongoing and disclosure of what was discussed at each meeting could restrict the contribution of Working Group members to those discussions and limit their input.

Housing Market

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average length of time was between a home being placed on the market and being sold in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Healey: We do not collect the data requested.

Housing: Construction

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new housing units were completed in 2008-09; and how many are predicted to be completed in  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11 and  (c) 2011-12.

Shahid Malik: 133,710 new build dwellings were completed in England in 2008-09.
	The latest statistics on house building starts and completions in England were published in the Communities and Local Government Statistics Release of 21 May 2009 and accompanying live tables. The web links are as follows:
	 Link to House Building Statistics Release:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/housebuildingq12009
	 Link to House Building Live Tables:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding/livetables/
	The Department does not publish forecasts for house building.

Housing: Construction

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what targets his Department and its agencies have set for affordable house building in each of the next two years.

John Healey: As set out in Building Britain's Future, we will be providing a total of 110,000 new affordable homes over the next two years.

Housing: Energy

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes classified as energy efficient were built in each local authority area in each of the last five years.

Shahid Malik: All new homes built in England in the last five years have been required to meet the energy efficiency standards set out in part L of the Building Regulations. The part L standard for new homes was raised by 25 per cent. in 2002 and by a further 20 per cent. in 2006. This requirement will progressively increase leading up to the target for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016. Tables showing the total number of new build dwellings per year in each English region can be found on my Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/141239.xls

Housing: Energy

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to paragraph 31 of the Building Britain's Future document, Cm 7654, what criteria will be used to decide where to deploy the £1.5 billion of new investment in energy efficient affordable homes.

John Healey: Criteria for allocations for these funds vary across the different component programmes, although all funding will be allocated on a competitive basis. For affordable housing units, standards and costing will be in line with those of the National Affordable Housing Programme. For private housing completions, the level of public subsidy required, fit with national, regional and local priorities and the quality of the homes will all be assessed. The bidding guidance and criteria for the schemes will be made available through the website of the Home and Communities Agency at
	www.homesandcommunities.co.uk

Housing: Energy

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many energy performance certificates have been issued by local authorities in respect of privately-rented properties in each year since their introduction; what recent progress has been made in increasing the energy efficiency of buildings; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/991) ("the 2007 regulations") require the seller, prospective landlord or builder of a property to make an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) available to a prospective buyer or tenant whenever a building in England or Wales is sold, constructed or rented out. Local authorities are not therefore expected to issue EPCs in respect of privately rented properties.
	The Heat and Energy Saving Strategy consultation paper (HESS), published in February this year, sets out the combination of measures the Government have adopted and proposes for increasing the energy efficiency of existing homes, including targeted help to households on using energy better, insulating their homes, accessing low carbon heat and power, and reducing their fuel bills. The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan (UKLCTP), publish on 15 July, also sets out the route to cut emissions by 34 per cent. in comparison to 1990 levels by 2020. Consultation on the HESS has now been completed and the final policy proposals will be published later this year.

Housing: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in which month in 2009 data collection funds from the second round of housing and planning delivery grant will be allocated to local authorities; over what period of data collection his Department will base its second round allocations; and over what period his Department will take a decision on how to allocate the funding.

John Healey: A consultation paper setting out changes to the formula for distributing Housing and Planning Delivery Grant was issued in May 2009. The data used to calculate the allocations of the second year of Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (2009-10) have been collected and we hope to make provisional allocations shortly. Following comments from local authorities we will make final allocations and payments in the autumn.
	The proposed formula is based on data for housing supply (average net additions) in local authorities over the period 2005-6 to 2007-8. For planning the formula is based on data from 2008-9 for the delivery of local development frameworks, providing land for housing and publishing strategic housing land assessments.

Housing: Low Incomes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many completed Social Homebuy transactions there have been in each Government Office region.

Shahid Malik: The following table shows the number of social homebuy sales in each Government office region between April 2006 and June 2009. Social homebuy is a voluntary and demand-led scheme in which only some social landlords choose to participate. It is one of several options available to help social tenants into home ownership. Purchasers can buy shares of between 25 and 100 per cent.
	
		
			  Region  Number of  s ocial  h ome b uy sales 
			 North East 16 
			 North West 63 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 19 
			 West Midlands 21 
			 East Midlands 5 
			 East 6 
			 South East 32 
			 Greater London 151 
			 South West 2 
			 Total 315

Housing: Low Incomes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of social housing units contained households with at least one person in paid work in  (a) 1979,  (b) 1997 and  (c) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Shahid Malik: Estimates of the number and proportion of social sector households with at least one person in employment in 1997 and 2008 are provided in the following table. Data are not available for 1979. These estimates are based on data from the ONS Labour Force Survey.
	
		
			  Social sector households with at least one person in employment, England, 1997 and 2008 
			   Thousands  Percentage 
			 1997 1,433 35 
			 2008 1,425 39 
			  Source: ONS, Labour Force Survey.

Housing: Low Incomes

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made towards the Government's target of delivering at least 70,000 affordable houses by 2010.

Shahid Malik: Provisional figures from the Homes and Communities Agency show a total of 47,000 affordable homes were provided in 2008-09. Market conditions have made the delivery of affordable housing much more challenging. Along with additional investment from the Housing Pledge and steps the Government have already taken, we will deliver 20,000 more affordable homes than would otherwise have been possible and allow us to deliver over 56,000 affordable homes in 2010-11.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what formula is used to allocate between regions additional monies under the National Affordable Housing Programme.

John Healey: Flexibility will be applied to the additional funding for the national Affordable Housing Programme and will reflect the extent to which local areas in regions respond on delivery and value for money.

Independent Housing Ombudsman

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent employees the office of the Independent Housing Ombudsman employs; what its budget for 2009-10 is; and how much it will receive in support from his Department in 2009-10.

Shahid Malik: The Independent Housing Ombudsman (THO) currently employs 35.5 full-time equivalent employees. Its budget for 2009-10 is £3,326,734. The IHO does not receive any financial support from the Department.

Leasehold Advisory Service

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent employees the Leasehold Advisory Service employs; what its budget for 2009-10 is; and how much it will receive in support from his Department in 2009-10.

Shahid Malik: LEASE currently employs 19 full-time equivalent staff. The expenditure forecast by LEASE for 2009-10 is £1,468,851. Communities and Local Government expects to provide a grant-in-aid amount of £1,325,000 for the year 2009-10.

Leasehold Advisory Service: Managers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what remuneration the Chief Executive of the Leasehold Advisory Service received in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Shahid Malik: The remuneration for the chief executive of the Leasehold Advisory Service with effect from 8 October 2008 is equivalent to £72,235 per annum.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what individual funding streams there are within the area-based grant; and which elements of area-based grant derive from funding streams which are managed by other Government departments.

Rosie Winterton: Information on individual area based grant funding streams and their contributing central Government Departments for the period 2009-10 is available from the CLG website at the following link:
	http://wwwcommunities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/xls/780467118.xls

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the amount of area-based grant will be in each of the next three years.

Rosie Winterton: The total of area based grant in 2010-11 is currently scheduled to be £4,776,748,906. This total is subject to change as departments contributing to ABG have the option to increase their previously announced allocations or to include new funding streams within ABG. Details of department allocations are available on the CLG website at the following link:
	www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localgovernmentfinance/areabasedgrant/
	Spending plans for 2011-12 onwards have yet to be determined.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how the number of resident migrants who are not recorded on the census in a particular locality are reckoned for the purposes of local government finance settlements.

Rosie Winterton: The distribution of Formula Grant funding takes into account a measure of the usual resident population, and does not use estimates of migrant numbers separately.
	Communities and Local Government use sub-national population projections and the mid-year estimates that are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). These statistics take into account changes in the population through natural change (births and deaths), internal migration (movements between local authorities) as well as international migration.

Local Government: Debt Collection

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions each local authority in England  (a) issued a court order and  (b) authorised bailiff action in respect of rent arrears in each of the last three years.

Shahid Malik: Data are not yet available on possession or eviction orders granted by the courts to local authority landlords in respect of rent arrears.

Local Government: East of England

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his plans are for the parliamentary timetable for secondary legislation in relation to local government restructuring in Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon.

Rosie Winterton: Following the High Court judgment in the case of Forest Heath District Council and Others v. the Boundary Committee for England, the Boundary Committee informed us that it was not able to provide the requested advice on unitary local government in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk by 15 July. We agreed that the deadline for providing advice should be extended. Once it is clear when any appeal against the court's judgment may be determined a new date by which the Boundary Committee is requested to advise will be specified.
	The statute provides that the Secretary of State may not make a decision about any unitary proposals put to him within six weeks of the date the Committee has been requested to provide advice.
	Any Orders to implement unitary proposals in Norfolk, Suffolk or Devon would be laid before Parliament as soon as practicable after statutory decisions are taken.

Local Government: Pay

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assumptions his Department makes of the level of local government pay inflation in determining the local government finance settlement; and what measure of pay inflation is used.

Rosie Winterton: No assumption on the level of local government pay inflation is made in determining the local government finance settlement. Cost pressures are considered as part of Spending Reviews. Differences in labour costs between areas are reflected in the Area Cost Adjustment.

Migration Impacts Fund

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which 200 projects will be funded under the Migration Impacts Fund; where each is based; what the purpose of each is; what the name of the recipient of funding in respect of each is; and how much each will receive.

Shahid Malik: On 9 July 2009 we announced the successful proposals for England to receive a share of the Migration Impacts Fund. The Fund is financed by a levy on migrants and provides £35 million across the UK for 2009-10 and, subject to a review in the autumn, a similar amount in 2010-11. This money will be used to reduce local pressure on public services and tackle illegal working practices. Councils and other frontline services have identified projects in their area that will make the biggest contribution to insulating them and local people against the impact of migration.
	A list of funding allocations for 2009-10 has been deposited in the Library of the House. This does not cover payments to voluntary sector bodies, or to enforcement agencies to protect existing workers in local areas as amounts are subject to funding agreements. Details of these payments will be published shortly.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2009,  Official Report, column 959W, on mortgages: Government assistance, on what date  (a) the Bank of Ireland,  (b) GMAC,  (c) Kensington Mortgages,  (d) GE Money and  (e) the Post Office joined the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 July 2009,  Official Report, column 498W.

Non-Domestic Rates: Appeals

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many business rate appeals the Valuation Tribunal Service has considered in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The following table sets out the number of national non-domestic rate appeals, considered by the 56 valuation tribunals in England, in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Total VT decisions on NNDR appeal types 
			   Number 
			 2008-09 8,101 
			 2007-08 13,825 
			 2006-07 23,779 
			 2005-06 36,581 
			 2004-05 34,725

Opencast Mining: Planning Permission

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the size of buffer zones between proposed opencast mining planning developments and residential housing in England to the size they are in Scotland.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) on 3 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1156W. There is no current intention to review existing planning policy on opencast mining and introduce buffer zones in England.

Residential Property Tribunal Service

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent employees the Residential Property Tribunal Service employs; what its budget for 2009-10 is; and how much it will receive in support from his Department in 2009-10.

Shahid Malik: The Residential Property Tribunal Service (RPTS) is an umbrella organisation for five regional panels which draw on a pool of tribunal members, including nine full-time equivalent (FTE) paid presidents and vice presidents. Although they receive funding for expenses and pay from the Department, members of tribunals are not Communities and Local Government staff. They are supported by 92.5 FTE administrative staff who are civil servants employed by Communities and Local Government. The total budget for the RPTS for 2009-10 is £11 million.

Scotland

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to make a submission to the Scottish Executive's National Conversation consultation on Scotland's constitutional future.

Shahid Malik: Communities and Local Government has not submitted evidence to the Scottish Executive's National Conversation and does not plan to do so.

Social Rented Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of social housing dwellings have received new tenants in each of the last five years.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) on 18 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1198W.

Social Rented Housing: Foreigners

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households of non-UK nationals have received new social housing tenancies in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Information on the number of foreign national households receiving social housing is collected through the continuous recording of letting form (CORE). Historically CORE has only collected information from registered social landlords. An increasing number of local authorities are now providing information through this process as well, but there are still some gaps in the data.
	A question on nationality was first introduced to the form for the 2006-07 data collection period. It was estimated that around 6 per cent. (equivalent to around 11,000) general needs lettings to new social housing tenants were made to foreign nationals in 2006-07. This estimate was adjusted for the missing local authority data, and included lets made to nationals from EEA countries.
	It is estimated that around 12,000 general needs lettings to new social housing tenants were made to foreign nationals in 2007-08 (equating to 6.6 per cent.). Figures for 2007-08 are based on an improved imputation method to adjust for missing local authority data. 2007-08 figures are published on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1228921.xls.

Social Rented Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding will be provided from  (a) the National Affordable Housing Programme and  (b) other funding streams to meet regional affordable housing targets in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

John Healey: Through Building Britain's Future we are investing, via the Homes and Communities Agency, over £7.5 billion in 2009-10 and 2010-11 from the National Affordable Housing Programme and other HCA programmes.
	With regard to regional targets, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, North (Mr. Austin) on 8 July,  Official Report, column 905W.

Social Rented Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what proportion of funding allocated to the National Affordable Housing Programme for  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11 is expected to be spent;
	(2)  what proportion of funding allocated to the National Affordable Housing Programme for  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11 was expected to be spent prior to the agreement of the new regional targets for affordable housing.

John Healey: I expect all of the national Affordable Housing Programme budget for 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be spent.

Social Rented Housing: Service Charges

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average annual service charges were for social housing run by  (a) local authorities,  (b) arms length management organisations and  (c) housing associations in each region in England in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Healey: Information on average service charges is available for housing associations through the Regulatory and Statistical Return, collected by the Tenant Services Authority. Most service charges are eligible for housing benefit, with the exception of heating and hot water charges.
	Table 1 gives average service charges eligible for housing benefit as at 31 March 2008 and is based on only general needs dwellings that have an eligible service charge.
	
		
			  Table 1: Average service charges by region for general needs stock owned by large registered social landlords, as at 31 March 2008 
			Benefit-eligible service charge 
			   Total stock (Units/beds paces)  Stock with service charge  Average for stock with service charge (£ per week) 
			 East Midlands 78,046 34,256 4.11 
			 East of England 176,712 67,786 4.08 
			 London 259,670 162,113 7.56 
			 North East 106,673 37,928 4.19 
			 North West 308,744 119,394 3.97 
			 South East 230,855 114,203 4.46 
			 South West 135,689 61,217 3.63 
			 West Midlands 183,624 95,447 3.83 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 139,602 55,339 4.32 
			 
			 England 1,619,615 747,683 4.83 
			  Notes: 1. Figures include data from all housing associations that completed the long version of the RSR and made a valid return (in general those HAs that own or manage 1,000 or more dwellings and/or bedspaces, including shared ownership dwellings). 2. The data cover general needs housing, including Estate Renewal Challenge Fund stock, but exclude all supported housing and housing for older people.  Source: Tenant Services Authority's Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR), part Ia, 2008. 
		
	
	The average service charge ineligible for housing benefit in England, as at 31 March 2008, was £5.11 per week, based on 113,985 dwellings with an ineligible service charge.
	Comparable information is not available for local authorities and arms length management organisations.

Social Rented Housing: Standards

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding his Department has allocated in respect of the Decent Homes programme in 2009-10; and what funding he intends to allocate in 2010-11.

John Healey: The Department for Communities and Local Government investment in the Decent Homes programme will be provided through the housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy system in the form of local authorities' supported capital expenditure (SCE), arms length management organisations' supported borrowing allocations and major repairs allowance (MRA). The level of spending is reducing as landlords come to the end of the decent homes investment programmes.
	We have also reprioritised funding from the ALMO programme. On 17 July, I announced £150 million in 2010-11 would be reprioritised from this programme, to enable investment of a further £1.5 billion to build an extra 20,000 new affordable homes for rent and low cost sale. This includes a new role for local authorities in the delivery of housing, enabling them to build 3,000 additional council homes over the next two years, which is a four-fold expansion of the scheme announced at the Budget. 12 ALMOs that have not yet met the Audit Commission's two-star standard to be eligible for support are more likely to receive funding in 2011-12. We remain fully committed to complete the Decent Homes programme, and once completed, to seeing this standard maintained in the future. The reforms to the council housing finance system set out in the consultation document I published on 21 July will safeguard our commitment to future decent homes.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2009-10  2010-11 
			 Local authorities supported capital expenditure 266 259 
			 ALMO supported borrowing allocations 896 609 
			 Major repairs allowance 1,277 (1)- 
			 (1) Not yet known.

Social Rented Housing: Waiting Lists

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for how long on average a household was on a social housing waiting list before being allocated social housing in each region in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the longest time was for which a household in each region had been waiting during that period.

Shahid Malik: Information on the length of time households spend on a housing waiting list is not collected centrally.

Supporting People Programme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities were eligible to receive Supporting People grants in each of the last three years.

Shahid Malik: Supporting People is a locally devolved programme administered through top tier authorities in partnership with local Housing, Health, Social Services and Probation bodies. Before the structural changes to local government on 1 April 2009, 150 authorities were eligible to receive funding, this has now increased to 152 eligible authorities.

Tenant Services Authority: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the budget for the Tenant Services Authority for 2009-10 is;
	(2)  how much he expects to give the Tenant Services Authority in grant-in-aid in 2009-10.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the responses given by the then Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) on 3 February, 23 March and 16 June 2009,  Official Report, columns 1160W, 78W and 202W respectively.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Catering

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer of 20 November 2008,  Official Report, column 752W, what subsidy his Department provided for staff dining facilities at Cockspur Street in 2008-09.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department paid £90,000 for staff catering facilities at Cockspur Street. In addition, the costs of running the kitchen are about £40,000.

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1336W, on departmental electronic equipment, how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agency has spent on (i) flat screen televisions, (ii) DVD players and (iii) stereo equipment since November 2008.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Since November 2008 my Department and the Royal Parks Agency have spent the following:
	
		
			  £ 
			   DCMS  Royal Parks Agency 
			 Flat screen televisions 633.28 0 
			 DVD players 0 15 
			 Stereo equipment 0 400

Departmental Manpower

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of employees in his Department are  (a) women and  (b) men; and what the average hourly pay is of (i) male and (ii) female employees.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 21 July 2009
	The percentage of employees who are male and female along with the average hourly pay is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage  Average rate per hour 
			  Grade  Female  Male  Female  Male 
			 Director (SCS2) 25 75 48.99 58.48 
			 Deputy Director (SCSI) 53 47 34.55 38.34 
			 Grade A (Upper) 42 58 29.45 29.80 
			 Grade A 45 55 24.21 24.74 
			 Grade B (Faststream) 40 60 16.46 17.22 
			 Grade B 46 54 15.40 16.13 
			 Grade C 46 54 12.91 12.68 
			 Grade D 58 42 10.73 10.34 
			 Overall 46 54 19.09 21.84

Departmental Procurement

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress his Department has made in implementing the recommendations of the Glover Report in its procurement processes.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department is making good progress in implementing the recommendations of the Glover Report, "Accelerating the SME Economic Engine". In particular:
	(a) The Department already makes use of a free portal "Supply2gov.uk" for advertising its contract opportunities, which attracts a wide range of SMEs.
	(b) Electronic issuing of tender documentation is standard practice, which is inclusive of the publication of contract award notices.
	(c) The Department has invested in new systems which allow us to track and map spend annually with SME's since 2006-07. Presently 27.5 per cent. of spend goes through SMEs, close to the recommended target of 30 per cent. over the next five years.
	The Department has also made progress with the other recommendations within the report, having completed its procurement innovation plan. We are also making progress in using more outcome based specifications.

Departmental Sick Leave

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of sick leave taken by staff in his Department was stress-related in the last three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 20 July 2009
	The percentage of sick leave taken by Department for Culture, Media and Sport staff reported as stress-related in each of the last three financial years is as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage of sick leave 
			 2006-07 13 
			 2007-08 4.6 
			 2008-09 1

Departmental Travel

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department and its agencies spent on travel in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 20 July 2009
	The travel and subsistence costs incurred by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its agency body, the Royal Parks Agency in the 12-month period June 2008 to the end of May 2009 are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 DCMS 444,677 
			 Royal Parks Agency 28,403 
		
	
	In addition, the Department also makes use of the Government Car Service for general ministerial duties, details of which were published in a written ministerial statement on 16 July 2009,  Official Report, column 80WS.
	Neither DCMS or RPA are able to separate travel costs from subsistence costs without incurring disproportionate costs.

Gambling Commission

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was claimed in expenses by staff of each grade at the Gambling Commission in the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following table shows expenses claimed for each type by Gambling Commission staff between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009.
	
		
			  Expenses claimed in 2008-09 
			  Type  £ 
			 Conference and hospitality(1) 6,399 
			 Information technology 858 
			 Office accommodation costs 78 
			 Office equipment and stationery 2,533 
			 Other 433 
			 Employee costs including professional fees and memberships 3,353 
			 Postage and telephone 2,404 
			 Publications 310 
			 Recruitment 240 
			 Training 1,226 
			 Travel and subsistence(2) 330,498 
			 (1) Including expenses that occurred at events staged by the Commission. (2) Travel and subsistence includes travel costs for routine travel undertaken by employees performing compliance and enforcement duties. This includes more than 50 compliance managers based around the country.

Gambling Commission

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much each of the senior officials at the Gambling Commission spent on official  (a) hospitality,  (b) travel,  (c) office expenses and  (d) other expenses in the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following table lists expenses claimed by type for the senior officials at the Gambling Commission in 2008-09.
	
		
			  Expenses claimed and expenditure incurred by Commission credit card (see definition) by senior officials of the Gambling Commission 2008-09 to the nearest £ 
			  Official  Hospitality (see note)  Travel (including related subsistence)  Office expenses  Other expenses 
			 Chief Executive 1,561 10,724 16 1,842 
			 Deputy chief executive 0 3,119 0 0 
			 Director of regulation (formerly director of operations) 839 4,205 40 1,283 
			 Director of corporate services 147 806 725 2,583 
			 Director of people and organisational development (formerly director of human resources) 0 136 0 0 
			 Director of policy and communications 0 825 0 1,427 
			 Director of licensing and compliance(2) 12 351 0 165 
			 Director of monitoring and enforcement(3) 101 101 0 0 
			 Corporate affairs director(4) 257 4,002 25 355 
			 Legal director(4) 0 27 0 0 
			 Director of finance(4) 41 77 0 413 
			 Director of strategy research and analysis(5) 0 146 0 523 
			 (1) to 31 October 2008 (2) to 3 January 2009 (3) to 20 July 2008 (4) from 1 November 2008 (5) from 10 November 2008  Note: The Commission's credit card has been used to pay for a range of goods and services including professional membership; occasional room hire, air travel booked online; meeting refreshments which are included under hospitality covering meals provided for Commission guests and their Commission hosts. The Commission does not provide any hospitality or entertainment in the wider sense of, for example, taking people to sporting or cultural events. Some of the entries relate to goods and services procured on behalf of other Commission employees and functions that do not hold an organisational credit card.

Glasgow

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he plans to visit Glasgow on official business during the summer adjournment.

Ben Bradshaw: Not currently but having done a number of visits in England and one in Wales I am hoping to visit Scotland shortly.

Olympic Games 2012: Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the sporting legacy for Scotland of the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply.
	The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games will offer Scotland a wonderful opportunity to create a lasting legacy. In the run up to the games, Scotland offers 30 facilities in the London 2012 Pre Games Training Camp Guide and at games time, Hampden Park will host some of the matches to be held in the football tournament. Scotland will also benefit from the increased funding for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
	Sport is a devolved matter for which responsibility lies with the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government have indicated that they will publish their Games Legacy Plan in relation to both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth games later this summer and this will include their plans for the sporting legacy in Scotland.

Scotland

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his Department plans to make a submission to the Scottish Executive's National Conversation consultation on Scotland's constitutional future.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not submitted evidence to the Scottish Government's National Conversation.
	The Commission on Scottish Devolution was established by majority vote in the Scottish Parliament and with the full support of the UK Government. UK Departments submitted evidence to the Commission during its first phase of evidence gathering.
	The Commission recently published its Final Report, which can be found on the Commissions website.
	A Steering Group has been established under the Chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Scotland to help the UK Government and the Scottish Parliament plan how to take forward the Calman recommendations and deliver stronger devolution within a stronger United Kingdom.

Sports: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department has allocated to the national governing body of each Government-funded sport in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England and UK Sport have advised that the following funding has been allocated to the national governing bodies of each Government-funded sport in each of the last five years:
	
		
			  Sport England funding 
			  £ 
			   Governing body  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Angling Angling Development Board (NFA, NFSA and STA) 135,000 185,000 0 40,000 0 
			 Archery Grand National Archery Society 30,000 15,000 15,000 0 0 
			 Athletics UK Athletics, AAA and England Athletics 605,000 775,000 367,000 748,480 1,048,480 
			 Badminton Badminton Association of England 802,990 951,069 519,533 753,403 1,699,876 
			 Baseball/Softball Baseball/Softball UK 41,000 0 0 0 0 
			 Basketball England Basketball 743,251 274,309 299,907 938,756 760,547 
			 Boxing Amateur Boxing Association 50,000 0 5,000 714,819 410,681 
			 Canoeing British Canoe Union 775,004 409,159 872,401 743,237 661,734 
			 Cricket England and Wales Cricket Board 2,475,064 4,811,127 6,397,110 2,983,223 4,216,640 
			 Cycling British Cycling 811,611 758,373 1,194,433 534,187 1,639,065 
			 Equestrian British Equestrian Federation 65,000 35,000 30,000 30,000 25,000 
			 Fencing British Fencing Association 50,000 50,000 30,000 0 0 
			 Football The Football Association 2,548,925 5,433,769 1,744,784 6,102,495 6,181,874 
			 Golf England Golf Partnership 189,000 149,000 412,552 379,511 670,741 
			 Gymnastics British Gymnastics 895,046 947,572 1,224,417 597,534 1,365,688 
			 Handball British Handball Association 7,000 7,000 3,500 0 0 
			 Hockey England Hockey 739,417 619,246 1,256,880 1,339,388 451,422 
			 Ice Skating National Ice Skating Association 25,000 25,000 25,000 0 0 
			 Judo British Judo Association 203,574 845,267 1,700,608 151,795 145,120 
			 Lacrosse English Lacrosse Association 159,000 289,333 10,000 25,000 25,000 
			 Mountaineering British Mountaineering Council 65,000 170,000 0 0 0 
			 Movement and Dance Exercise Movement and Dance Partnership (plus others) 98,001 106,500 27,000 4,750 0 
			 Netball England Netball 844,275 473,405 831,460 814,381 1,241,632 
			 Orienteering British Orienteering Federation 130,000 135,000 45,000 42,750 42,750 
			 Pentathlon Modern Pentathlon Association 8,500 0 0 0 0 
			 Petanque  4,583 0 0 0 0 
			 Real Tennis Tennis and Rackets Association 0 6,000 3,000 0 0 
			 Rounders National Rounders Association 32,000 100,000 0 50,000 0 
			 Rowing Amateur Rowing Association 1,110,792 464,077 927,179 624,076 1,271,378 
			 Rugby League Rugby Football League 525,574 371,537 1,427,644 2,749,052 1,418,622 
			 Rugby Union Rugby Football Union 6,772,941 2,879,564 4,000,262 4,278,455 6,379,890 
			 Sailing Royal Yachting Association 210,000 75,000 117,500 112,625 112,625 
			 Shooting English Target Shooting Association 8,125 6,500 0 0 0 
			 Skiing Snowsport England 40,000 40,000 30,000 0 0 
			 Squash England Squash 415,666 146,000 200,700 419,288 1,110,379 
			 Surf Life Saving Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain 7,000 7,000 3,500 0 0 
			 Swimming Amateur Swimming Association 680,000 709,991 1,324,673 1,002,791 1,306,590 
			 Table Tennis English Table Tennis Association 627,700 222,426 1,909,369 165,445 1,287,945 
			 Tennis Lawn Tennis Association 2,008,562 4,331,032 2,937,865 5,710,276 2,815,020 
			 Tenpin Tenpin and Rackets Association 6,000 0 0 0 0 
			 Triathlon British Triathlon Association 75,000 75,000 15,000 225,000 20,000 
			 Tug of War Tug of War Association 3,521 3,250 1,500 0 0 
			 Volleyball English Volleyball Association 250,083 397,917 75,000 123,250 63,250 
			 Waterskiing British Water Ski 35,000 35,000 0 0 0 
			 Weightlifting British Weight Lifters Association 40,000 40,000 30,000 0 0 
			 Wrestling British Wrestling Association 10,000 10,000 5,000 0 0 
			 Yoga British Wheel of Yoga 10,000 6,000 0 0 0 
			 Total  25,369,205 27,391,423 30,019,777 32,403,967 36,371,949 
		
	
	
		
			  UK Sport funding 
			  £ 
			  Sport  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Archery 0 50,000 283,904 264,101 334,509 
			 Archery-Paralympic 0 0 94,180 176,420 251,400 
			 Athletics 2,462,699 2,418,550 3,476,724 2,171,251 3,566,919 
			 Athletics-Scotland 111,000 29,000 23,000 0 0 
			 Badminton 3,758 0 98,687 858,501 597,702 
			 Baseball and Softball 9,000 107,100 170,000 170,000 0 
			 Basketball 0 0 0 1,939,010 1,823,069 
			 Bobsleigh 55,000 62,500 82,500 110,000 70,000 
			 Boccia 0 0 0 138,894 225,344 
			 Bowls 8,600 0 0 0 0 
			 Bowls-Wales 7,050 0 0 0 0 
			 Boxing 16,800 8,400 432,370 1,031,859 1,218,229 
			 Canoeing 808,819 477,000 979,000 1,001,509 1,473,186 
			 Caving 20,000 11,000 5,500 0 0 
			 Cricket-Scotland 16,594 0 0 0 0 
			 Curling 56,730 67,130 0 0 0 
			 Cycling 2,414,795 2,432,500 3,621,456 4,208,106 3,080,248 
			 Cycling-Paralympic 0 199,000 199,000 0 48,100 
			 Cycling-Scotland 8,297 8,297 0 0 0 
			 Disability Athletics 0 0 116,150 348,450 690,100 
			 Disability Fencing 0 0 0 53,670 137,745 
			 Disability Football 0 0 0  83,869 
			 Disability Swimming 0 0 75,000 104,983 606,078 
			 Disability Table Tennis 0 0 0 137,340 269,460 
			 Disability Tennis 0 0 41,500 162,700 167,600 
			 Diving 0 0 138,787 218,477 406,466 
			 Equestrian 805,755 287,000 1,334,484 2,432,915 2,509,447 
			 Equestrian-Scotland 1,281 0 0 0 0 
			 Fencing 140,000 50,000 285,958 514,089 638,198 
			 Football 2,000 0 0 0 86,331 
			 Football-Ireland 6,200 0 0 0 0 
			 Football-Scotland 0 6,378 0 0 0 
			 Gliding 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 20,000 
			 Goalball 0 0 4,000 56,000 55,000 
			 Golf 20,666 0 10,334 0 0 
			 Gymnastics 501,258 720,000 424,043 822,981 1,470,922 
			 Gymnastics-Scotland 4,994 5,269 0 0 0 
			 Handball 0 4,700 417,270 871,935 1,029,349 
			 Hang Gliding and Paragliding 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 15,000 
			 Hockey 70,000 21,780 2,419,453 2,536,331 1,953,291 
			 Hockey-Scotland 579 1,175 0 0 0 
			 Hockey-Wales  1,000 0 0 0 
			 Judo 872,535 282,000 457,009 576,033 653,613 
			 Judo-Visually Impaired 0 0 22,500 65,200 69,600 
			 Karate 65,000 0 0 0 0 
			 Lacrosse 73,500 0 24,500 0 0 
			 Modern Pentathlon 376,949 155,000 350,000 411,000 458,000 
			 Mountaineering 186,000 73,500 51,000 19,000 11,325 
			 Netball 6,258 0 0 0 0 
			 Netball-Wales 1,400 0 0 0 0 
			 Orienteering 122,000 220,000 220,000 250,000 200,000 
			 Orienteering-Scotland 12,000 1,630 0 0 0 
			 Orienteering-Wales - 1,932 0 0 0 
			 Parachuting 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 12,500 
			 Paralympic Skiing 0 0 20,000 15,000 71,500 
			 Paralympic Volleyball 0 0 16,800 0 213,392 
			 Powerlifting 0 0 0 99,138 208,162 
			 Rowing 2,160,617 2,439,789 6,343,283 5,886,241 4,271,504 
			 Rowing-Adaptive  0 159,000 0 0 
			 Rowing-Scotland 6,665 0 0 0 0 
			 Rugby-Ireland 3,386 0 0 0 0 
			 Rugby League 54,120 36,080 0 0 0 
			 Rugby Union-Scotland 69,664 17,415 0 0 0 
			 Rugby Union-Wales 8,000 0 0 0 0 
			 Rugby Union-Women 9,400 4,700 0 0 0 
			 Sailing 1,178,917 1,847,185 3,152,553 3,052,509 2,741,433 
			 Sailing-Northern Ireland 0 1,161 0 0 0 
			 Sailing-Paralympic 0 60,000 195,950 379,800 289,350 
			 Shinty 6,665 0 0 0 0 
			 Shooting 0 0 0 126,404 128,896 
			 Skating 163,750 129,000 64,500 0 292,202 
			 Skeleton 95,225 128,562 5,998 0 112,000 
			 Ski and Snowboard 126,668 160,000 154,000 244,000 329,323 
			 Squash-Scotland 16,594 0 0 0 0 
			 Swimming 1,335,175 334,200 1,877,357 1,535,370 1,897,822 
			 Swimming-Scotland 6,750 0 0 0 0 
			 Swimming-Wales 25,436 8,479 0 0 0 
			 Synchronised Swimming 0 0 154,192 461,427 636,844 
			 Table Tennis 3,758 9,680 351,408 385,442 450,795 
			 Taekwondo 0 40,000 274,383 360,293 333,880 
			 Target Shooting 291,248 180,000 523,125 956,700 1,154,811 
			 Target Shooting-Scotland 6,665 0 0 0 0 
			 Triathlon 239,500 322,000 165,500 355,000 450,413 
			 Volleyball 0 8,000 414,500 1,034,531 1,430,943 
			 Volleyball-Scotland 6,297 2,000 0 0 0 
			 Water Polo 0 0 327,332 866,986 1,026,498 
			 Water Skiing 150,000 189,170 207,500 220,000 220,000 
			 Weightlifting 105,948 90,000 166,650 427,050 377,144 
			 Wheelchair Basketball 40,000 55,000 123,700 295,100 310,400 
			 Wheelchair Curling 5,125 14,875 46,500 35,750 71,750 
			 Wheelchair Rugby - - 18,000 170,045 243,955 
			 Wrestling 75,000 20,000 275,730 338,590 436,942 
			 Grand total 15,553,089 13,894,137 30,991,270 38,991,131 41,932,560

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Advertising

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department's expenditure for advertising  (a) on UTV,  (b) on commercial radio,  (c) in the Belfast Telegraph,  (d) in the News Letter,  (e) in The Irish News and  (f) in weekly papers was in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The finance system of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) does not break down advertising expenditure in the detail requested therefore these figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Billing

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in June 2009.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office, including the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland but excluding its agencies and NDPBs, paid 92.4 per cent. of invoices from suppliers within 10 days of receipt in June 2009.

Departmental Dismissal

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of staff in his Department were dismissed  (a) for under-performance and  (b) in total in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: In the Northern Ireland Office, no member of staff has been dismissed for under-performance and 20 members of staff in total have been dismissed from 2005 to date. The following table shows a breakdown of dismissals since 2005:
	
		
			   Number of staff dismissed 
			 2005 1 
			 2006 5 
			 2007 8 
			 2008 4 
			 2009 2

Departmental Manpower

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of employees in his Department are  (a) women and  (b) men; and what the average hourly pay is of the (i) male and (ii) female employees.

Paul Goggins: The percentage of employees in the Northern Ireland Office and its agencies are 40.2 per cent. male and 59.8 per cent. female. The average hourly rate in the latest period for which figures are available for male employees is £11.94 and for female employees is £10.36.

Parades

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on security and policing of the 12 July events in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Disciplinary Proceedings

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers had disciplinary action brought against them for each type of disciplinary offence in the last five years.

Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Security Guards: Licensing

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many security licences have been  (a) refused and  (b) revoked by his Department in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The number of licenses refused and revoked are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of licenses refused  Number of licenses revoked 
			 2004 0 0 
			 2005 0 0 
			 2006 0 0 
			 2007 0 0 
			 2008 5 0

OLYMPICS

Departmental Contracts

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many contracts let by her Department were awarded to businesses with fewer than 50 employees in each of the last five years; and what the monetary value of such contracts was in each such year.

Tessa Jowell: My ministerial portfolio requires my Office to operate within both the Cabinet Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and this information will therefore be included in the answers provided by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Departmental Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what categories of personal information on members of the public will be held on each database expected to become operational in the next five years and which will be managed by her Office; what estimate she has made of the likely number of individuals' details each such database will hold when fully operational; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: My ministerial portfolio requires my Office to operate across the estates of the Cabinet Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport and this information will therefore be included in the answers provided by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

National Lottery: Olympic Games 2012

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister for the Olympics which grants to the London 2012 Olympic Games project approved by the Big Lottery Fund have been  (a) notified to and  (b) authorised by the EU Commission for state aid clearance.

Tessa Jowell: The Big Lottery Fund has made no grants to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games project.

Olympic Games 2012

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment she has made of the work of establishing temporary facilities to house the International Broadcast Centre and the Main Press Centre during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 6 July 2009
	It was always the intention that the International Broadcast Centre/Main Press Centre (IBC/MPC) would be a combination of temporary and permanent elements. As it became clear that a private sector deal was not going to offer best value for money, a full assessment of the IBC/MPC site was undertaken to determine ways to make temporary those proposed permanent elements not required in legacy.
	The MPC offices, the two-storey IBC studio and part of the car parking facilities will be permanent buildings for games and legacy as originally planned but slightly smaller (totalling just under 100,000 sq m rather than 125,000). Some of this reduction is due to catering facilities, originally intended to be housed temporarily in office space during the games, now being provided in separate wholly temporary facilities. Other temporary elements of the project include both the other part of the car parking facilities and temporary retail facilities for media and broadcast personnel.
	Assessment of temporary versus permanent facilities is ongoing as the design and procurement teams continue to ascertain those components required solely for games-time. As such, careful attention is being given to identify those elements that can either be hired in for the duration of the games or that can be relocated following the games. For example, we are considering hiring much of the mechanical and electrical plant required to service the IBC in games-time and the generators for back-up power.
	Games-time operations are the responsibility of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), in conjunction with the Olympic Broadcast Service and Host Broadcaster, who will be providing much of their own broadcast equipment and operational functions.
	It remains the intention to create facilities that leave a real long-term employment legacy for Hackney and the buildings have been designed to be as flexible as possible. The public sector will retain ownership of the asset and receipt of all revenues from its sale after 2012.

Olympic Games 2012

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister for the Olympics if she will make it her policy that the traditional folk culture of the nations of the United Kingdom feature in the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) will be developing its plans for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games in due course. It is too early to say which organisations will take part in these events in three years' time. However, the Cultural Olympiad provides opportunities for folk culture to be represented in the London games in the run up to and including 2012. Information and opportunities for involvement will be highlighted on the London 2012 website at:
	www.london2012.com

Olympic Games 2012: Carbon Emissions

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps her Office is taking to  (a) define and  (b) measure the carbon footprint of the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games has led a project to define and measure the carbon footprint of London 2012, working closely with the Olympic Delivery Authority and London Development Agency, and also stakeholders such as the Government Olympic Executive, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Greater London Authority.
	The outcome of the analysis will be published in the autumn alongside a carbon management strategy setting out how we are ensuring that carbon emissions are minimised as part of our commitment to a genuinely sustainable 2012 Games, including by making sustainable choices during procurement, by reducing energy at source and by minimising waste at every stage.

Olympic Games 2012: Contracts

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what proportion of contracts relating to the London 2012 Olympics had been advertised on the CompeteFor website on the latest date for which figures are available.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority has directly awarded contracts to over 950 suppliers to date. The ODA was formed in April 2006, and began procurement from its inception to ensure that it was on programme. It was already working with a number of suppliers, 550 in all, by the time CompeteFor was launched in January 2008. Due to the scale and complexity of its procurements, the ODA has procured some of its contracts using established OGC frameworks to simplify the process, and a number are closed, for example, for security reasons.
	As of June 2009, 2,872 contract opportunities had been advertised on CompeteFor. These break down as follows:
	The ODA, its contractors, and buyers in their supply chains have advertised 2,335 opportunities
	LOCOG and its supply chain have advertised 88 opportunities
	Other partners, including the London Development Agency, and their supply chains have advertised 449 opportunities
	It is anticipated that the ODA's and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games' direct procurement will generate around 75,000 supply chain contracts. Contractors are encouraged to place as many as possible of their unallocated contract opportunities on CompeteFor.
	It is estimated that for around 80 per cent. of these contracts, contractors will rely on their existing suppliers and sub-contractors leaving around 15,000, approximately 20 per cent., of opportunities to be placed on the system. The 20 per cent. figure is an estimate based on other large projects and the way in which contractors have decided to package and procure their sub-contracts. Given that the majority of these will be private procurements, we are unable to state precisely what proportion of these have been advertised on CompeteFor.
	As expected, the vast majority of CompeteFor opportunities have been posted by the ODA's contractors and buyers in their supply chains, and the ODA continues to work with its contractors to ensure that as many as possible of their new opportunities are placed on the system. Some of the ODA's contractors are now also beginning to use CompeteFor for some of their 'non-Olympic' contract opportunities, opening up further opportunities.
	LOCOG is in the early stages of its procurement activity, and will start buying the majority of the goods and services required for staging the games from early 2010.
	CompeteFor was established to help open up games-related opportunities to businesses across the UK and to provide a means of offering them any business support they need to win contracts. Our ambition is not only a legacy of businesses winning contracts but also one of businesses inspired to be fitter, more innovative and more competitive as a result. To date over 31,000 businesses have received business support as a result of registering on CompeteFor, and over 2,500 have received an intensive level of assistance.

Olympic Games 2012: Facilities

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what plans she has for the use of the Olympic Village after the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 20 July 2009
	The Olympic Village will provide 2,818 homes after the London Games in 2012. Of these new homes, 1,379 will be available as affordable housing, including affordable rented, intermediate market rented and part-buy/part-rent (shared ownership), together with shared equity housing.

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister for the Olympics which Government grants to the London 2012 Olympic Games project have not been notified to the European Commission for the purposes of compliance with the requirements of state aid rules; and for what reasons in each case.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority is the statutory body charged with preparing for the 2012 games, including procuring the necessary infrastructure. For this purpose it receives grants from central government, the Greater London Authority, the London Development Agency, the Olympic Lottery Distributor and Sport England. These grants do not constitute state aid under European Union rules and, accordingly, have not been notified to the European Commission. In procuring games-related infrastructure, the Olympic Delivery Authority complies with European Union public procurement rules.

Olympic Games 2012: Hertfordshire

Charles Walker: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games is taking to ensure that residents of Hertfordshire benefit from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The Broxbourne white water canoe centre (BWWCC) will provide benefits for the residents of Hertfordshire before, during and after the games. It will be open to the public before the London 2012 games.
	Events were held on 3 July to mark the beginning of construction work at the BWWCC site. As part of these events, 550 local residents attended and took the opportunity to find out more about the construction of the BWWCC and its lasting legacy for Hertfordshire as a world-class white water canoeing and rafting centre that will be open to the public after the games.
	The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) work with representatives of the East of England through their joint Nations and Regions Group (NRG) to ensure that the region, and more broadly the whole of the UK, benefits from the opportunities the games provide. Across the East of England, nearly 600 schools and colleges are involved in LOCOG's domestic education programme, Get Set, while 66 LOCOG-approved facilities have been included in the official London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide. 13 community projects are now using the Inspire Mark, LOCOG's non-commercial brand. At last year's handover celebrations, 49 events were held across the region and 60 special '2012 handover' flags were raised.
	The county has 17 pre-games training camps for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games and links are being built with national Olympic committees to attract teams to these venues. Hertfordshire also has over 2,000 businesses registered with the London 2012 business network and six contracts awarded through CompeteFor, the free brokerage service between buyers throughout the London 2012 supply chain. Hertfordshire also has a number of events planned for the forthcoming London 2012 Open Weekend to be held on 24-26 July including the Junk Percussion workshops being held in and around the Broxbourne area.

Olympic Games 2012: ICT

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she has taken to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in the digital and information technology industries to provide services for the London 2012 Olympics; and what online services relating to the games will be available to the public while they are in progress.

Tessa Jowell: CompeteFor was designed to open up supply chain opportunities to businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, across the UK in many sectors, including those working in digital and information technology. As well as opening up contract opportunities, CompeteFor sign posts businesses to support services, helping them get fitter to compete for games-related, and other, contracts. At games time, the London Organising Committee will provide comprehensive coverage online, including with new media technologies, enabling everyone to access, share and participate in the games.

Olympic Games 2012: Lancashire

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment she has made of the legacy to Lancashire from the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: Lancashire is already benefiting from the London 2012 Games. 19 businesses in the county have won Games-related contracts and 115 Lancashire schools have registered for 'Get Set' the official 2012 education programme, enabling them to use a range of Games-related materials.
	Lancashire is also heavily involved in the region's cultural legacy programme WE PLAY. For example, Abandon Normal Devices is a festival of new cinema and digital culture and is a new regional partnership between Film, Art and Creative Technology (FACT) (Liverpool), Comerhouse (Manchester) and Folly (Lancashire) and is partly funded by Legacy Trust UK. Another example is New Cultural Journeys which is a major youth culture and sport programme for the Fylde Coast and Lancashire.
	Lancashire, and the Northwest region as a whole, is playing an active part in maximising the benefits of the London 2012 Games. A key part of the region's plans are to ensure that all parts of the NW benefit and as such each sub region is represented on the NW Steering Group for the 2012 Games. This group feeds directly in to the Nations and Regions Group which is the joint Government Olympic Executive and London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games initiative aimed at deriving the maximum benefit from the Games for the whole of the UK.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Administration of Justice: Domestic Visits

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many official visits have been undertaken by the Government's Crime and Justice Adviser in the last six months; when each such visit was undertaken; what the  (a) purpose and  (b) cost was of each such visit; and in which constituency each such visit was undertaken.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 21 July 2009
	 The Government's Crime and Justice adviser has undertaken 12 official visits in the last six months as part of the work to ensure that crime is tackled and justice delivered more visibly and in response to community priorities
	Dates and locations are as follows.
	
		
			  Destination  Purpose  Constituency  Cost( 1)  (£) 
			  24 February 2009
			 London to Nottingham Speech and official visits to raise levels of involvement by local people in work to tackle crime and to ensure local services are responsive to local people's needs on crime and justice Nottingham, North and South 365.19 
			 Nottingham-Bulwell, Broxtowe
			  25 February 2009
			 Nottingham-Bestwood, Central
			 Nottingham to Southampton
			 
			  25 February 2009
			 Nottingham to Southampton Speech and official visits to raise levels of involvement by local people in work to tackle crime and to ensure local services are responsive to local people's needs on crime and justice Southampton, Itchen 261.47 
			  26 February 2009
			 Southampton-Polygon, Central
			 Southampton to London
			 
			  21 April 2009
			 London to Liverpool Speech and official visits to raise levels of involvement by local people in work to tackle crime and to ensure local services are responsive to local people's needs on crime and justice Liverpool, Riverside and Liverpool, Walton 648.60 
			 Liverpool-Liverpool 8
			  22 April 2009
			 Liverpool-Central, Walton Hall Park (Liverpool 4), Kirkdale
			 Liverpool to London
			 
			  27 April 2009
			 London to Surrey Visit to Surrey police to discuss local work Spelthorne 50.12 
			 Surrey to London
			 
			  29 April 2009
			 London Visit to Community Payback project-to raise levels of involvement by local people in work to tackle crime and to ensure local services are responsive to local people's needs on crime and justice Poplar and Canning Town 213.50 
			 
			  11 June 2009
			 London to Middlesbrough Speech and official visits to raise levels of involvement by local people in work to tackle crime and to ensure local services are responsive to local people's needs on crime and justice South Shields and Sunderland, North 1,297.10 
			 Middlesbrough-Gresham, Pallister Park, Cargo Fleet
			 South Tyneside-South Shields
			  12 June 2009
			 South Tyneside-South Shields
			 Sunderland-Southwick
			 Sunderland to London
			 
			  16 June 2009
			 London to Liverpool Speech and official visits to raise levels of involvement by local people in work to tackle crime and to ensure local services are responsive to local people's needs on crime and justice St. Helens, North, Knowsley, South and Liverpool, Riverside 661.98 
			 St. Helens-Moss Lodge, Parr
			 Knowsley-Huyton
			 Liverpool-Central
			  17 June 2009
			 Liverpool to London
			 
			  18 June 2009
			 London to Birmingham Official visit on Community Payback in Birmingham Birmingham, Erdington 537.46 
			 Birmingham-Witton Lake
			 Birmingham to London
			 
			  19 June 2009
			 Tower Hamlets, London Speech and visit to Community Payback project-to raise levels of involvement by local people in work to tackle crime and to ensure local services are responsive to local people's needs on crime and justice Bethnal Green and Bow, Vauxhall 107.07 
			 Vauxhall, London
			 
			  21 June 2009
			 London to Bradford Speech and official visits to raise levels of involvement by local people in work to tackle crime and to ensure local services are responsive to local people's needs on crime and justice Bradford, South, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Pontefract and Castleford 670.15 
			 Bradford-Central
			  22 June 2009
			 Bradford-Central
			 Kirklees-Deighton, Lees
			 Wakefield-Castleford
			 Wakefield to London
			 
			  7 July 2009
			 Barking and Dagenham, London Official visit to raise levels of involvement by local people in work to tackle crime and to ensure local services are responsive to local people's needs on crime and justice Barking and Dagenham 168.25 
			 
			  16 July 2009
			 London to Hull Speech and official visits to raise levels of involvement by local people in work to tackle crime and to ensure local services are responsive to local people's needs on crime and justice Kingston upon Hull, West and Hessle, Kingston upon Hull, North, City of York 680.81 
			 Hull-Priory Drive, Shawpark Playing Field, Courtland Road
			 York
			  17 July 2009
			 York to London
			 (1) Costs include local transportation as necessary for Louise/members of local staff/local residents and hotels, meals, rail fares and taxi transfers.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prosecutions were brought against public house licensees for serving alcohol to minors in each local authority area within the ceremonial county of Hampshire in each of the last five years; and how many such public houses closed after the licensee was convicted in such cases;
	(2)  how many prosecutions were brought against retail store licensees for serving alcohol to minors in each local authority area within the ceremonial county of Hampshire in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: Information showing the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for 'selling alcohol to persons under 18' in the Hampshire police force area 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is contained in the table. Information held centrally cannot be broken down to local authority area.
	It is not possible to differentiate between sales on and off premises in the court proceedings database or to identify which premises closed after being convicted of the above offence.
	2008 data will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for selling alcohol to persons aged under 18( 1) , by offence, Hampshire police force area 2003 to 2008( 2, 3) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 Selling intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises - - 9 7 11 8 2 - - - 
			 Sale of alcohol to person under 18 - - - - - - - - 4 4 
			 Total - - 9 7 11 8 2 - 4 4 
			 (1) Selling alcohol to persons under 18 includes the following offences; (a) Holder of occasional permission or his agent knowingly selling to, knowingly allow consumption by or allowing any person to sell, intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Selling etc intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises. (b) Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. (c ) Sale of alcohol to person under 18. (d) Allowing sale of alcohol to person under 18. (e) Persistently selling alcohol to children. (2) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit-Office for Criminal Justice Reform Ref: IOS 366-09 and 367-09.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were  (a) issued and  (b) breached in each police force area in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008; and when he plans to publish qualitative analysis of the impact and effectiveness of each type of anti-social behaviour intervention.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 21 July 2009
	Data on the number of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued and breached in England and Wales are available up 31 December 2007. The number of ASBOs issued during 2007 and the number proven in court to have been breached at least once during 2007 (latest available) is shown in the table. It is important to note that many of the breaches counted in this table will have arisen due to ASBOs issued in years prior to 2007.
	The Home Office has commissioned two pieces of work evaluating interventions to tackle antisocial behaviour. These are:
	Research to examine local variations in the use of antisocial behaviour interventions. This was the first step to developing further work into the comparative effectiveness of different approaches to tackling antisocial behaviour. The findings of this study are due to be published in autumn 2009; and
	An evaluation of the comparative effectiveness of interventions to address anti-social behaviour. Results from this evaluation are due in 2010.
	Three independent reports have confirmed that our approach to tackling antisocial behaviour is working. The National Audit Office (NAO) reported that two thirds of people stop committing ASB after one intervention, rising to nine out of 10 after three interventions. Many of these were warning letters and antisocial behaviour contracts which are voluntary measures.

Antisocial Behaviour: Southampton

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders issued against people in each age category are in force in  (a) Test Valley borough and  (b) the City of Southampton.

Alan Campbell: The latest available published data on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued covers the period 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2007 and are not available below Criminal Justice System (CJS) area level.
	The number of ASBOs issued at all courts in the Hampshire Criminal Justice System area to young people (defined as being aged 10 to 17 at the date of appearance in court) and adults (defined as being aged 18 or over at the date of appearance in court) is 199 and 226 respectively. In addition, there were five ASBOs issued to persons whose age was not reported.
	ASBOs can be of a fixed duration (for a minimum of two years) or made until further order. It is therefore not possible to determine from centrally collected data how many ASBOs are in force at a particular point in time.

Asylum

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legacy asylum cases have been resolved since July 2006.

Phil Woolas: In her update to the Home Affairs Select Committee, Lin Homer, the UK Border Agency Chief Executive, has stated that 197,500 older asylum cases have been resolved, up to 31 May 2009. The Case Resolution Directorate have made good progress and remain committed and on track to conclude these cases by summer 2011.

Asylum Seekers: Detention of Children

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been detained at immigration detention centres in each location in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the average period of detention was.

Phil Woolas: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Asylum: Families

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications made by those under the age of 18 years and resident in their country of origin to join their parents who  (a) have been granted refugee status,  (b) have been granted humanitarian protection,  (c) have been granted discretionary leave to remain and  (d) are awaiting a decision on their immigration application in the UK have been accepted in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The number of visas issued to overseas nationals under the age of 18 in the Family Reunion category in each of the financial years 2004-05 to 2008-09 is shown in the following table. The Family Reunion category comprises dependents of  (a) those granted refugee status before 2005 and  (b) those granted refugee status and humanitarian protection after 2005, but such dependents are not recorded separately by the UK Border Agency.
	
		
			  Financial year  Family reunion visa issue 
			 2004-05 5,663 
			 2005-06 4,714 
			 2006-07 3,521 
			 2007-08 3,069 
			 2008-09 2,552 
			 Total 19,519 
		
	
	There is no provision in the Immigration Rules for entry clearance to dependents of  (c) those granted discretionary leave to remain before they have obtained indefinite leave to remain, or  (d) those awaiting a decision on their application for leave to remain on the basis of their claim for asylum.

Bichard Inquiry

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing the Bichard Inquiry; what steps still require to be implemented; and when implementation is expected to be completed.

David Hanson: Good progress has been made in implementing Sir Michael Bichard's recommendations. 22 of the 31 recommendations are now substantially delivered. The Government remain committed to implementation and action continues under various strands of work.
	Much of this ongoing work relates to the larger, more complex projects within the Bichard programme. These include transmitting court results direct to the Police National Computer, delivering the IMPACT Programme to strengthen national police intelligence sharing capabilities, taking account of broader developments in identity management and establishing the Independent Safeguarding Authority to administer the new Vetting and Barring Scheme. All these projects are expected to be completed or to have made further substantial progress by the end of 2010.

Biometrics

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the error rate of face recognition systems installed at points of entry by the UK Border Agency.

Alan Johnson: Automated Clearance Systems (ACS) are currently in use at Manchester and Stansted airports. They are being independently monitored for the UK Border Agency, as well as by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch.
	The system can reliably pick out impostors and even distinguish between identical twins. The face matching system uses statistically based algorithms and error rates are in line with system specifications. The system is monitored by UKBA officers, who will examine any passengers rejected by the gate, as well as carrying out random manual checks.

Borders: Patrol Craft

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patrol boats of each type  (a) HM Revenue and Customs and  (b) the UK Border Agency have operated in each of the last 10 years; and for what purpose.

Alan Johnson: HM Customs and Excise, HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency have operated five offshore patrol ships in the years stated.
	These are interdiction vessels, conducting intelligence-led operations.

Borders: Patrol Craft

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Royal Navy has taken on any  (a) functions and  (b) operations previously conducted by vessels of HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency.

Alan Johnson: HM Customs and Excise, HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency have all operated offshore patrols and operations with other organisations, including the Royal Navy.
	The UK Border Agency's maritime branch can call on the military for support and protection at a time of operational need. In the same way, maritime branch has supported the military during major operations and for boarding expertise.
	No direct transfer of roles has taken place.

Borders: Patrol Craft

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vessels were  (a) intercepted and  (b) boarded by crew from vessels of HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency in UK territorial waters in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Johnson: The combined number of interceptions and boardings of vessels made by HM Customs and Excise, HM Revenue and Customs, and the UK Border Agency in the last 10 years are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of interceptions  and boardings 
			 1999-2000 514 
			 2000-01 661 
			 2001-02 716 
			 2002-03 1,046 
			 2003-04 1,170 
			 2004-05 1,075 
			 2005-06 1,240 
			 2006-07 1,352 
			 2007-08 1,472 
			 2008-09 1,981 
		
	
	It is not possible to break these figures down further.
	These figures are based on locally collated management information and as such are subject to change and do not form part of national published statistics.

Burglary Prevention

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglary prevention advice packs are planned to be distributed; how they will be distributed; and what the timetable is for their distribution.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office is supplying 360,000 burglary advice packs. The contracted distributors, Prolog, are despatching them to members of the public who have ordered them via the dedicated public order telephone line, and to named contacts in all police forces in England and Wales which have requested the packs. All packs are due to be distributed to the police by the end of August 2009.

Children: Rights

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an assessment has been made of the compatibility of  (a) antisocial behaviour orders,  (b) curfews,  (c) dispersal zones and  (d) mosquito devices with children's rights to freedom of movement and peaceful assembly.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office has not carried out an assessment, however we have always made clear that tackling antisocial behaviour is not about intolerance of different lifestyles.
	The freedom of assembly and association, found in Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, is a qualified right. This means that it may be subject to restrictions which are in accordance with the law, when such restrictions are necessary, and therefore proportionate, for the prevention of disorder or crime or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Crime: Prevention

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which projects have  (a) been funded or  (b) had funding allocated to them from the crime prevention budget in the 2009-10 financial year.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office does not have a single crime prevention budget. Funding through the Local Area Agreements and support for Crime and Disorder Partnerships, including police funding, all contributes to locally agreed work to prevent crime.
	In addition to this, the Home Office funds projects and initiatives targeted at preventing crime through: offender-based interventions (to reduce recidivism); diversion and deterrence, especially around young people and those exposed to the problems of drug and alcohol misuse, antisocial behaviour, delinquency, chaotic families and poor parenting; support for victims, particularly victims of sexual or domestic violence (to reduce repeat victimisation and encourage the reporting of crime); improved local agency responses to antisocial behaviour and crime problems; and advice and practical measures of support for members of the public.
	Funding goes towards national initiatives, support for police and other crime-reduction partners in the development and use of new techniques, tools and powers, and grants for third sector organisations for the delivery of Home Office programmes or to support innovative approaches that contribute to crime reduction. In terms of national initiatives, programme and capital expenditure for 2009-10 has been planned for the following areas:
	 Acquisitive crime
	1. Preventing serious acquisitive crime, including the Safer Homes Action Against Burglary projects, the Vigilance Programme, and funding towards AVCIS (the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service).
	 Public space violence
	2. Tackling gang-related crime, and preventing gun and knife-related violence, including the Community Fund grant programme for voluntary and community sector organisations located in areas where gun and knife crime are a particular problem.
	3. Tackling serious youth violence, including the Tackling Knives Action Programme.
	4. Preventing the incidence of hate crime, including through the Government's Victims' Fund and the delivery of the hate crime action plan.
	 Sexual and domestic violence
	5. Supporting sexual and domestic violence victims, including funding for multi-agency risk assessment conferences, and the expansion of ISVA (independent sexual violence adviser) services and sexual assault referral centres.
	6. Reducing violence against women, including the Together We Can End Violence against Women and Girls public consultation.
	7. The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Pilots.
	8. Preventing the incidence of other forms of inter-personal violence, including funding for the Forced Marriage Unit and a cross-Government co-ordinator on female genital mutilation.
	 Youth crime, antisocial behaviour, and community justice
	9. Youth Crime Action Plan initiatives.
	10. Youth Justice Board crime prevention initiatives.
	11. Supporting members of the public and local agencies in dealing with antisocial behaviour, including the Antisocial Behaviour Action Squad.
	12. Piloting a community justice panel.
	 Wildlife crime
	13. Funding towards the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit.
	 Preventing re-offending
	14. Offender-based intervention, including the Prolific and other Priority Offenders programme, Drug Interventions Programme, and encouraging the take-up of Integrated Offender Management approaches.
	 Alcohol and drugs misuse
	15. The 2008 drug strategy delivery programme, including pilots to test new approaches to drug treatment and a national cannabis cultivation coordinator.
	16. Named drug workers within youth offending teams.
	17. Piloting family drug and alcohol courts.
	18. Alcohol Arrest Referral pilots.
	19. Improving alcohol law enforcement, including a programme of training and guidance for local practitioners.
	20. The Positive Futures social inclusion programme for disadvantaged and socially marginalised young people.
	21. Drugs licensing and compliance (issue of licences to companies and individuals within England, Wales and Scotland who wish to produce, supply, possess or import/export controlled drugs).
	 Partnerships
	22. Grant funding support for crime third sector organisations, including the Crimestoppers Trust and the Neighbourhood Watch movement.

Crime: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of crimes committed in Suffolk resulted in  (a) a caution,  (b) a fixed penalty notice and  (c) a conviction in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: Information is not available in the form requested as it is not possible to track individual offences through to their outcome at court. The available information relates to the number of offences recorded and detected by means of a caution or penalty notice for disorder in Suffolk in each financial year. Convictions data are based on the number of offenders and have been provided by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. These data are published on a calendar year basis and are counts of persons classified by their principal offence.
	For these reasons the two datasets are not directly comparable.
	Table 1 gives the police recorded crime data for Suffolk. Table 2 provides data on the number of offenders convicted for all offences.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences recorded by the police in Suffolk 
			   Number of offences  Number detected by a caution  Percentage detected by a caution  Number detected by a penalty notice for disorder  Percentage detected by a penalty notice for disorder 
			 2004-05 52,101 3,161 6 173 0 
			 2005-06 52,831 4,236 8 526 1 
			 2006-07 51,096 4,047 8 1,206 2 
			 2007-08 48,330 4,096 8 1,661 3 
			 2008-09 46,504 4,004 9 1,733 4 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Offenders convicted at all courts for all offences in Suffolk( 1, 2) 
			   Number of convictions 
			 2003 16,098 
			 2004 18,685 
			 2005 19,320 
			 2006 17,817 
			 2007 17,405 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Criminal Records Bureau

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the longest time taken for the completion of a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)  (a) standard and  (b) enhanced disclosure check was in each year since the inception of the CRB.

David Hanson: The performance of the CRB remains good and in 2008-09 the CRB exceeded its targets for issuing 90 per cent. of all standard checks within 10 days and issued 88 per cent of all Enhanced checks in 28 days. In 2008-09, the CRB witnessed an unprecedented increase in demand for its service which caused a dip below the 90 per cent. target for processing Enhanced checks in 28 days.
	The disclosure process comprises broadly several stages involving the applicant, the registered body (RB) (the organisation that handles the application on behalf of an employer), the CRB and the police. Each stage is reliant on the accuracy of the data provided by the applicant and the subsequent verification of these data by the RB from the outset.
	A number of factors can cause delays, including the length of time it can take for an employer to deal with the initial application; the accurate completion of the application form; the clarity of the information provided; the existence of conviction or non-conviction information and the operational effectiveness of the Disclosure Units of the police forces involved in the enhanced disclosure process following recent high volumes of applications.
	The majority of applications spend between three and four days at the CRB and analysis undertaken by the Bureau has shown that the majority of delays that occur do so before the CRB receives an application and after it has been sent to the police.
	The CRB has set up an improvement plan with its delivery partners, including the police forces, to address the problems associated with delays. This is aimed at maintaining a balanced output of applications on the system while also reducing the number of cases that have been in process for more than five days. This work has started to show an improvement in turnaround times but the CRB will continue to monitor forces' performance in line with its own performance.
	Where applications are returned to customers to acquire further information, reminders are issued but some customers can fail to provide this information or withdraw their application from the Bureau's systems where they no longer require their disclosure.
	The following table provides details of the longest time taken for the completion of a CRB standard and enhanced disclosure in each year since the inception of the Bureau. The figures have been calculated based on the date the disclosure was issued in each year, counting back from the date of completion.
	
		
			   Longest time taken in days - enhanced disclosure  Longest time taken in days - standard disclosure 
			 2002-3 406 345 
			 2003-4 684 692 
			 2004-5 954 803 
			 2005-6 1,189 1,198 
			 2006-7 1,414 1,203 
			 2007-8 1,680 1,512 
			 2008-9 1,606 864 
			 2009-10 1,434 393 
		
	
	It is likely that these applications will have been referred back to the applicant or Registered Body; the delays in issue are not necessarily representative of the Bureau's performance.

Criminal Records Bureau

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken to process an application for a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure was in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 29 June 2009,  Official Report, columns 79-80W.

Criminal Records Bureau: Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Criminal Records Bureau checks in respect of individuals applying for posts which would require their names to be added to the list maintained under the  (a) Protection of Children Act 1999 and  (b) Protection of Vulnerable Adults Act 2003 were undertaken in each police force area in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) does not maintain the lists of the Protection of Children Act 1999 (POCA) and the Protection of Vulnerable Adults Act 2003 (POVA). The POCA list is maintained by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the POVA list is maintained by the Department of Health (DOH).

Departmental Databases

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 918W, on departmental databases, what marketing campaigns have been targeted using ACORN data; and what ACORN codings were used in each such campaign.

Phil Woolas: We have used the ACORN hard pressed category to inform our marketing planning to tackle youth crime and antisocial behaviour, and acquisitive crime.

Departmental Postal Services

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on Royal Mail services in each of the last two years.

Phil Woolas: The Department's payments to Royal Mail is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £000 
			   2008-09  2007-08 
			 Core Home Office and UKBA 1,282 1,247 
			 Identity and Passport Service 1,134 1,931 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 2 3 
			 Total Home Office 2,418 3,181

Drugs

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies spent on the implementation of drugs policies in each category in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Johnson: Total expenditure on Home Office drugs programmes was captured within the HM Treasury database on our previous strategic objective that fewer people's lives are ruined by drugs (and alcohol).
	The relevant figures for  (a) the Department are set out in the following table, whereas  (b) Home Office agencies whose strategic and operational activities include elements of our drugs policies do not budget specifically for them but for their overarching enforcement aims and objectives.
	Changes in the classification of funding in Spending Review 2000 mean that comparison with previous years is not possible.
	
		
			  Total expenditure by the Home Office on drugs 
			  £000 
			   Resource  Capital 
			 2000-01 0 0 
			 2001-02 1,825 0 
			 2002-03 80,619 0 
			 2003-04 96,351 0 
			 2004-05 206,904 2,174 
			 2005-06 200,382 800 
			 2006-07 211,472 1,390 
			 2007-08 199,450 774 
			 2008-09 180,688 500 
			  Note: Capital funding of £20,262,000 in 2006-07 and £19,702,000 in 2007-08 20,262 previously reported on to the HMT database erroneously included and classified Safer and Stronger Communities funding as Drugs expenditure. This is being corrected in the HMT database.  Source: HMT database.

Drugs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to reduce the supply of prohibited substances to problem drug users at street level.

Alan Campbell: As part of 2008 drug strategy, we have expanded the 'street level up' (SLUA) initiative. The SLUA approach is a national, multi-agency project designed to make a sustained impact on the illicit drugs trade and drug related criminality, and harm it causes to people and communities. This approach builds on intelligence on street level dealers to identify and take out higher level dealers, thereby disrupting the entire supply chain. A number of police forces are involved in the second phase and the Serious Organised Crime Agency are working with forces to plan and support the local roll-out.
	As highlighted in the 2008 drug strategy 'Drugs: protecting families and communities', the Home Office and partners have put in place neighbourhood policing teams in every area of England and Wales to allow the police to respond more directly to any issues of concern identified by the community and to work in a more joined-up approach with local partners. Our next priority is to embed action to tackle drugs, where this is a local priority, within the neighbourhood policing and policing pledge approach to help the police and partners to be more responsive to community intelligence and concerns about drugs.

Drugs

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the monetary value of the illicit drugs market in the UK.

Alan Campbell: The most recent estimate by the Home Office of the value of the UK illicit drugs market was published in 2006, it estimates the value of the UK illicit drug market at between £4 billion to £6.6 billion for the reference year 2003-04.
	This estimate is based on six categories of illicit drugs: cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, powder cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin. The total market size is estimated at £4.6 billion in England and Wales and £5.3 billion in the UK as a whole. The margin of error for these estimates are wide; £3.5 billion to £5.8 billion for England and Wales, and £4.0 billion to £6.6 billion for the UK. In terms of total street value, crack and heroin account for the largest shares of expenditure (respectively 28 per cent. and 23 per cent.); cannabis and powder cocaine make up 20 and 18 per cent. of expenditure, while amphetamines and ecstasy have a market shares of six and five per cent.
	 Reference:
	Pudney et al. (2006) 'Estimating the Size of the UK Illicit Drug Market' In Singleton, N. et al. (eds.) 'Measuring Different Aspects of Problem Drug Use: Methodological Developments'. Home Office Online Report 16,/06).

Drugs: Research

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will evaluate for comparative purposes research carried out into the effects of the policies on drugs adopted by the Portuguese government in 2001 on levels of  (a) drug-taking,  (b) drug-smuggling and  (c) other drug-related crime in that country.

Alan Campbell: Both British and Portuguese drugs strategies recognise the importance of a balanced approach to tackling the demand for and the supply of drugs, placing an emphasis on the needs of the individual drug user and using the criminal justice system to identify and direct drug users into treatment programmes.
	There are no plans to undertake a specific comparative evaluation of the Portuguese drugs policies, although we will note with interest any emerging evidence from the Portuguese approach.

Emergency Services: Common Talk Groups

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to Baroness Neville-Jones of 13 July 2009,  Official Report, House of Lords, columns WA185-86, on emergency services: common talk groups, what the intended  (a) purposes and  (b) users are of (i) the Sharer Hailing Group, (ii) the Dedicated Government Agency Group, (iii) the Silver Level Inter-Agency Group, (iv) the three Bronze Level Inter-Agency Groups, (v) the All-User Interoperability Group and (vi) the Multi Agency Mutual Aid Group.

David Hanson: holding answer 20 July 2009
	The information is as follows:
	(a) The Sharer Hailing Group enables visiting sharer agencies within a police force area to make contact with the police control room.
	(b) The Dedicated Government Agency Group enables non-police enforcement agencies to carry out operations with the police.
	(c) The Silver level Inter-Agency Group is intended for Silver command use at incidents where all or some blue light agencies are present.
	(d) The Three Bronze level Inter-Agency Talk Groups are intended for Bronze operational use where all or some other blue light agencies are present.
	(e)The All-User Interoperability Group is owned and managed by Airwave Solutions Limited, the service provider, for use by their customers where appropriate.
	(f) The Multi Agency Mutual Aid Talk Group is a set of 10 talk groups owned and managed by Airwave Solutions for use as a supplement to other talk group arrangements.
	Users of each Talk Group are listed in the following table.
	
		
			  Talk g roup  Users 
			 (a) The Sharer Hailing Group Fire-Brigades 
			  Ambulance-Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, Air Ambulance 
			  Broadmoor Hospital 
			  Defence-Army, RAF (including RAF Search and Rescue), Navy, Guards Agency 
			  HM Revenue and Customs 
			  Department for Work and Pensions 
			  Gangmasters Licencing Authority 
			  Prisons Services 
			  Highways Agency 
			  Transport Scotland 
			  Traffic Wales 
			  Local Authority Warden Schemes 
			  CCTV Schemes 
			  Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 
			  Coastguards 
			  Royal National Lifeboat Institution 
			  UK Border Agency 
			  Other minor single users. 
			 (b) The Dedicated Government Agency Group HM Revenue and Customs Department for Work and Pensions 
			  Gangmasters Licencing Authority 
			  Immigration Service 
			  Prisons Services 
			 (c) The Silver Level Inter-Agency Group Fire Ambulance Defence-Army, Royal Air Force (RAF) (including RAF Search and Rescue), Navy, Guards Agency HM Revenue and Customs Prisons Services Highways Agency Transport Scotland Traffic Wales UK Border Agency 
			 (d) The three Bronze Level Inter-Agency Groups, Fire - Brigades Ambulance - Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, Air Ambulance Broadmoor Hospital Defence-Army, RAF (incl RAF Search and Rescue), Navy, Guards Agency HM Revenue and Customs Department for Work and Pensions Gangmasters Licencing Authority Prisons Services Highways Agency Transport Scotland Traffic Wales Local Authority Warden Schemes CCTV Schemes 
			  Coastguards Royal National Lifeboat Institution UK Border Agency 
			 (e) The All-User Interoperability Group All organisations that have access to Airwave. 
			 (f) The Multi Agency Mutual Aid Group All organisations that have access to Airwave (incl all above) have access to these talk groups. All organisations that have access to Airwave.

Emergency Services: Common Talk Groups

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to Baroness Neville-Jones of 13 July 2009,  Official Report,  House of Lords, columns WA185-86, on emergency services: common talk groups, how many officers of  (a) the Metropolitan Police,  (b) the City of London Police and  (c) the British Transport Police in London have been trained to use (i) the Sharer Hailing Group, (ii) the Dedicated Government Agency Group, (iii) the Silver Level Inter-Agency Group, (iv) the three Bronze Level Inter-Agency Groups, (v) the All-User Interoperability Group and (vi) the Multi-Agency Mutual Aid Group.

David Hanson: holding answer 20 July 2009
	All officers in the three forces are trained on how to access and use the Airwave Talk Group facility, as part of their general radio training. Consequently they are all trained to use all of the talk groups listed.

Entry Clearances

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the time it will take for the back-log of residence applications from EEA nationals to be cleared.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency is committed to clearing the backlog of cases by the end of November 2009 and to returning to operational service standards from the beginning of December 2009.

Entry Clearances: Kosovo

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the processing in Pristina of applications for visas to enter the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I have not received any representations on the processing of applications for visas to enter the UK in Pristina.

European Electronic Crime Task Force

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent assessment is of the effectiveness of the European Electronic Crime Task force; and what recent discussions he has had with his Italian counterpart on cyber crime.

David Hanson: The European Electronic Crime Task Force went live on 30 June 2009. It was created by the Polizia Postale e delle Comunicazioni (Italian Postal and Communication Police) and Poste Italiane (Italian Post).
	The purpose of the taskforce is to facilitate the exchange of information and analysis on cyber-crime techniques and to establish new techniques and tools for the prevention, detection, mitigation and effective investigation of cyber-crimes.
	It is too soon to judge the effectiveness of the taskforce as it was only established in the past four weeks; however this seems a useful initiative and builds on the strong existing links between Italy and the UK in fighting this area of crime.

Fixed Penalties

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many penalty notices for disorder have been issued in respect of each offence by each police force in each year since 2002.

Claire Ward: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued from 2004 to 2007 (latest available) in England and Wales, broken down by police force area and offence, are shown in tables which have been placed in the House Library.
	PNDs were made available to all 43 police forces in England and Wales from April 2004.
	PND data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Forced Marriage

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases dealt with by  (a) the Forced Marriage Unit and  (b) police forces have involved persons who have been obliged to sign applications for leave to remain under duress from their spouses.

Alan Campbell: The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) does not routinely collect the information requested. However, of the 420 cases where the FMU provided direct support to victims in 2008, 207 involved reluctant sponsors (where a victim has already been forced into marriage and is now being forced to sponsor their spouse's visa) and 10 cases where the sponsor wished to withdraw their sponsorship of their spouse prior to them being granted indefinite leave to remain.

Forced Marriage

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent investigations his Department has carried out in respect of allegations that persons have been obliged to sign recent applications for leave to remain under duress by their spouses.

Phil Woolas: The information is not held centrally at a sufficient level of detail to extract what is often one of several issues raised.

Forced Marriage

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on any link between instances of forced marriage and cases where persons have been obliged to sign applications for leave to remain under duress by their spouses.

Alan Campbell: To date, there has been no specific research commissioned to evaluate the link between instances of forced marriage and cases where persons have been obliged to sign applications for leave to remain under duress by their spouses.
	In 2008 the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) introduced a new system in order to capture more robust figures on forced marriage. During 2009 the FMU will continue to work with other Government Departments and the non-government organisations to build a co-ordinated approach to data collection. Within this we will consider how to better capture data on immigration matters.

Foreign Workers: Vetting

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to improve access to international conviction data to improve checks on workers from overseas in the UK.

Phil Woolas: Officials from my Department and the Criminal Records Bureau have reached an agreement in principle on sharing criminal record information with Australia and New Zealand for employment vetting purposes. We are also in ongoing discussions with France and Ireland.
	Under the terms of EU Council Framework Decision 2009/315/JHA the United Kingdom can, when an individual is seeking a copy of their own criminal record, ask the member state of nationality or previous residence for such information and related data. If such a request is made, the requested member state shall reply in accordance with its national law. Member states, including the United Kingdom, are required to take the necessary measures to comply with this Framework Decision by 27 April 2012.

Foreigners: Drugs

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alien persons and what quantity and type of narcotic intended for the UK were intercepted by  (a) HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency and  (b) Royal Navy vessels in UK territorial waters in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Johnson: From April 2008, the UK Border Agency took on responsibility for maritime operations which had previously been undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs.
	Prior to the creation of the UK Border Agency, people trafficking and illegal immigration did not feature as Maritime operational targets. Our crews are now actively briefed and alert to the risk of illegal immigration. Policy and legislative guidance on this matter is presently subject to review.
	Seizure results and outcomes arising from Maritime operations are not distinguished from other border operations.
	UK Border Agency assets work regularly in support of operations by other agencies. We do not record details of seizures resulting from operations carried out by other agencies involved in border patrols.

Identity Cards

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2009 to Baroness Hanham,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WA36 on identity cards, which other organisations representing students have been involved in recent stakeholder activity.

Phil Woolas: As part of stakeholder activity across the country to raise awareness of the National Identity Service we have met with a number of organisations. These have included the National Union of Students, Universities UK, Student Services from Manchester University and the Learning Skills Council in Manchester.

Identity Cards

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2009 to Baroness Hanham,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WA36 on identity cards, what the dates were of meetings held between the Identity and Passport Service and  (a) the National Union of Students,  (b) Universities UK and  (c) other organisations representing students.

Phil Woolas: As part of stakeholder activity across the country to raise awareness of the National Identity Service we have met with a number of organisations. These have included the National Union of Students, Universities UK on 26 February 2009, Student Services from Manchester University on 8 January 2009 and the Learning Skills Council in Manchester on 25 February 2009. Representatives from Manchester University attended the Home Secretary event in Manchester on 29 January 2009.

Illegal Immigrants: Drugs

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) patrol boats and  (b) aircraft are available to police to combat illegal immigration and drug smuggling operations.

Alan Johnson: In 2008 there were 108 patrol boats and 33 aircraft operated by police forces in England and Wales, used for a number of operational policing tasks at the discretion of individual chief officers.
	Other assets (mainly military) are made available through the Military Aid to Civil Authorities (MACA) and Military Aid to Civil Power (MACP) process for specific operations. MACA/MACP covers standing arrangements for the Police Service and other civil agencies to draw on military capability in time of need. These operations would usually be led by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs or the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Illegal Immigrants: Housing

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost of providing accommodation for illegal migrants to the UK.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 16 July 2009
	The UK Border Agency does not provide accommodation to migrants other than to:
	asylum seekers who are destitute, or likely to become destitute, whilst their claim (including any appeal) remains under consideration; failed asylum seekers with dependent children under the age of 18 years and those who are unable to leave the UK immediately for reasons beyond their control who would otherwise be destitute.
	Local authorities are responsible for providing assistance to migrants who are destitute and have care needs. This form of assistance may include the provision of accommodation under the National Assistance Act 1948. The Home Office does not collect data on the cost of this.

Illegal Immigrants: Olympic Games 2012

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) illegal immigrants and  (b) failed asylum seekers have been discovered working on construction of the main Olympic site.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 20 July 2009
	Since April 2008, UK Border Agency (UKBA) staff have been working on site with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and contractors to support the process of checking that people employed on the Olympic park are legally entitled to work in the UK. This process was extended across the Athletes' Village in February 2009.
	In addition to my previous answer of the 26 January 2009, between January 2009 and March 2009, a further two foreign nationals were arrested as a result of the UK Border Agency's activity.

IMPACT Programme

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the IMPACT Programme is expected to be fully operational; and what recent estimate he has made of the cost of the programme.

David Hanson: The IMPACT Programme is on track to commence deployment of the Police National Database (PND) capabilities in 2010.
	As part of the IMPACT Programme, the Impact Nominal Index (INI) was delivered on time in December 2005. A code of practice on the Management of Police Information (MoPI) was published in July 2005 and came into effect in November 2005. Detailed guidance was published in April 2006. The IMPACT Programme continues to assist forces in bringing about the required business change to effect successful compliance with the code of practice and the guidance by 2010.
	The cost of the IMPACT Programme (INI, MoPI and PND) from 2005 through to 2011-12 is estimated to be £244.2 million, including historical costs and contingency funds.

Management of Police Information

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by police forces in their implementation of the statutory code of practice on the management of police information.

David Hanson: IMPACT continues to support police forces in bringing about the required business change to effect successful compliance with the code of practice and guidance for the Management of Police Information (MoPI).
	In September 2006 the MoPI Delivery Board required all forces in England and Wales to achieve implementation in line with the MoPI code of practice and guidance by December 2010.
	The board also required the IMPACT Programme to conduct regular formal reviews of all police forces in order to monitor progress and assess national implementation risk. Throughout March to May 2009, the fourth series of such reviews was conducted by the IMPACT Programme.
	The review established that there could be every expectation that a large majority of police forces would be fully MoPI compliant and the remaining forces substantially MoPI compliant by December 2010.

Missing People

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) adults and  (b) minors reported missing in 2008 remain unaccounted for.

David Hanson: This information is not held centrally.
	The central collection of data and other information to support work tackling the issues around missing people has been initiated through the 'Code of Practice on the Collection of Missing Persons Data', which was published in April 2009.

National Wildlife Crime Unit: Finance

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much it cost to run the National Wildlife Crime Unit in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: The current National Wildlife Crime Unit was created in April 2006, after the National Crime Intelligence Service (NCIS) was disbanded. Previously there was a Wildlife Crime Unit within NCIS. The unit received funding of £308,417 in 2006-07, £476,296 in 2007-08, £403,412 in 2008-09 and has been budgeted at £437,919 for 2009-10.

Neighbourhood Policing Publicity Campaign: Finance

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on marketing, public relations, communications and advertising in the 2008.

David Hanson: The Spring 2008 Neighbourhood Policing Campaign was intended to inform the public that for the first time every neighbourhood in England and Wales had a neighbourhood policing team in their area and how to contact them. In the financial year 2007-08 the Home Office spent £1,179,754.00 on marketing, public relations, and advertising on this campaign.

Offences Against Children

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated 
	(1)  on potential links between those who (i) view evidence of child abuse online and (ii) abuse children;
	(2)  on any relationship between incidences viewing of child abuse online and the incidence of (i) abuse of children and (ii) other types of sexual offences;
	(3)  on the use of evidence of possession of different types of child abuse images to predict likely future risks to children.

Alan Campbell: In April this year law enforcement, government and academic experts from the G8 nations and others came together in a symposium hosted by the United States of America to discuss these issues raised; it included experts from the UK's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). Their deliberations led to the issue on 30 May 2009 of a G8 Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Statement "The risk to children posed by Child Pornography offenders". Among the many conclusions and recommendations was: an acceptance of a relationship between viewing and contact offending, although more work was required to determine the exact nature of that relationship; a recognition that based on conviction evidence a significant proportion of "image" offenders had committed some form of contact offence; and the exchange of child abuse images and communication between child sexual offenders legitimises and normalises their beliefs and behaviours providing a social context which encourages the further exploitation of children.
	The Home Office, CEOP and other relevant stakeholders from across Government will be exploring how the recommendations from the G8 ministerial statement can be taken forward in a UK context.

Offences Against Children: Internet

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had on progress towards the Government's commitment to ensuring that 80 per cent. of internet service providers  (a) use filtering software and  (b) prevent access to images of child abuse.

Alan Campbell: In 2006 the Government stated that it wished to see 100 per cent. of consumer broadband connections covered by blocking, which includes child abuse images, by the end of 2007. Currently in the UK 95 per cent. of consumer broadband connections are covered by blocking. The Government are currently looking at ways to progress the final 5 per cent. and will set out actions and timescales in due course.
	The Kitemark for filtering software developed by the Home Office and OFCOM and in partnership with BSI, was launched in launched April 2008. Currently none have been issued, but the promotion of the Kitemark is a priority for the UK Council for Child Internet Safety under the Industry Working Group. The Government fully support the Kitemark and encourages companies to apply for it.

Passports: Borders

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of people who enter the UK without passing through passport or border controls each year.

Alan Johnson: Since the phasing out of embarkation controls in 1994 no Government has ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country including those who have failed to present themselves to an immigration officer on arrival or overstayed on their visa. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately and that remains the case.

Patrol Craft: Finance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the  (a) capital and  (b) operating cost of patrol vessels operated by HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Johnson: The running costs (including fuel, repairs, defects, spares, refits, maintenance, berthing and ancillary costs) and capital costs (including vessel replacements) for the last 10 years are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Financial year  Running  Capital 
			 1999-2000 2,256,000 0 
			 2000-01 1,840,000 5,300,000 
			 2001-02 1,893,000 3,020,000 
			 2002-03 1,999,600 3,100,000 
			 2003-04 1,446,410 4,584,100 
			 2004-05 1,626,830 1,421,600 
			 2005-06 1,840,850 0 
			 2006-07 1,625,380 0 
			 2007-08 2,580,380 100,000 
			 2008-09 2,508,700 0

Police

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what structures are in place to enable liaison between police forces in Wales and neighbouring police forces in England.

David Hanson: There are well-established structures for liaison across all forces in England and Wales that Welsh forces and their neighbouring forces avail themselves of. The Association of Chief Police Officers and various staff associations facilitate both formal and informal contact. The National Policing Improvement Agency and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary both promote the sharing of effective practice between forces.
	In terms of systems, the Police National Computer and the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System enable forces across England and Wales to exchange information critical to the successful investigation, detection and prevention of crime. All forces have adopted the National Intelligence Model as a way of working; the model itself fosters cross-border collaboration.
	Liaison specifically between Welsh forces and neighbouring forces in England also takes place at both a formal and an informal level, facilitated by a number of groups. Issues covered by these groups include distraction burglary, professional standards, major crime review, and drugs.

Police National Computer

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicle records on the Police National Computer have an indicator relating to driver information marked against them.

David Hanson: holding answer 20 July 2009
	Based on the latest figures available, from a data extract taken on 1 July 2009, a total of 78,713 vehicle records contained police reports with information about the driver or where action may still be required in connection with the driver/users of the vehicle.
	The data presented here are drawn from administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. While the figures shown have been checked as far as practicable, they should be regarded as approximate and not necessarily accurate to the last whole number.

Police National Computer: Patrick Brendon Smith

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the convictions of Patrick Brendon Smith for rape in Ireland were uploaded to the Police National Computer; and whether those entries included his alias Patrick Reilly.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 20 July 2009
	Government Ministers are unable to direct officials to search the Police National Computer for an individual's name. The National Policing Improvement Agency is therefore not able to disclose the information requested.

Police: Emergency Calls

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average police response time in each constituency in Wales to 999 calls is.

David Hanson: holding answer 21 July 2009
	Data on the time taken to respond to incidents resulting from 999 calls are not collected centrally. This is a matter for each individual chief police officer.

Police: Pensions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of payments made to police pensioners aged  (a) under 50,  (b) between 51 and 55,  (c) between 56 and 60,  (d) between 61 and 65 and  (e) 65 and over was in (i) the latest year for which figures are available, (ii) 1997, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2005 and (v) 2007.

David Hanson: Information on expenditure on payments to police pensioners by age group is not held centrally.
	Before 2006-07 the previous pay-as-you-go system of financing was in operation, under which police pensions were paid out of forces' operating accounts. Information about the total level of pensions expenditure net of officer contributions is included in the annual reports published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). This information is gathered independently of the Home Office.
	Total expenditure on police pensions in payment in 2007-08 to retired officers and police survivors was £2.096 billion.

Police: Powers

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) of 20 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 1467-68W, on police: powers, what definition of the term front-line policing he uses.

David Hanson: The detailed definition of the front-line policing measure is given in the Guidance on Statutory Performance Indicators for Policing. Copies of the definition of the measure have been placed in the House Library.

Police: Retirement

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many chief constables took early retirement in each year since 2001; on what grounds each took early retirement; what pension arrangements each received; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Under the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 a police officer may retire with an ordinary pension after 25 years' service.
	Information on chief constables' retirements is held dating back to September 2001 only. Since that date there have been 55 retirements of chief constables. In all of these cases the individual had served for over 25 years.
	Details of the grounds for retirement of chief constables and of their pension arrangements are not held centrally.

Police: Retirement

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) primary and  (b) secondary legislation for which his Department was responsible and which made provision for the (i) retirement and (ii) early retirement of police officers has been enacted since 1997.

David Hanson: There has been no primary legislation introduced since 1997 governing the retirement or early retirement of police officers.
	The provisions of the Police Pension Scheme 1987, to which the majority of officers belong, are set out in the Police Pensions Regulations 1987. The following Statutory Instruments made since 1997 have amended the provisions relating to retirement and early retirement in those regulations:
	The Police Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2003/535
	The Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2004/1491
	The Police Pensions (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2004/2354
	The Police Pensions (Part-time Service) Regulations 2005/1439
	The Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2008/1887
	The following Statutory Instruments also have provisions relating to arrangements governing retirement and early retirement:
	The Police Pensions Regulations 2006/3415 setting out the New Police Pension Scheme 2006 which applies to new entrants to the service with effect from 6 April 2006.
	The Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006/932 setting out awards for injury or death in the line of duty which are separate from the contributory pension scheme arrangements.
	The Police Pension Fund regulations 2007/1932 which set out the new pension scheme financing arrangements which have applied since April 2006.

Poppy Crop

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) size and  (b) estimated monetary value of the domestic poppy crop was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alan Campbell: Poppies are grown for many purposes in the UK; some are grown for the extraction of morphine (papaver somniferum) and it is only these poppies that the Home Office holds statistics on.
	 (a) There are currently 38 sites growing poppies for the extraction of morphine. The total area under cultivation in 2008 amounted to 2,568 hectares, slightly down from 2007 2,745 hectares. Additionally, a small number of organisations grow poppies for research purposes.
	 (b) The monetary value of the poppies is a commercial matter between the growers and their customers.

Rape

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of rape have been reported  (a) in England and Wales,  (b) in East Sussex and  (c) in Eastbourne in each of the last five years; and how many of these resulted in (i) a prosecution and (ii) a conviction.

Alan Campbell: Information is not available in the form requested as it is not possible to track individual offences through to their outcome at court. The available information relates to the number of offences of rape recorded by the police in the last five financial years. Prosecutions and convictions data are based on the number of offenders and have been provided by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. These data are published on a calendar year basis and are counts of persons classified by their principal offence. For these reasons the two datasets are not directly comparable.
	Table 1 gives the number of offences of rape recorded by the police in England and Wales, Sussex and Eastbourne. Data for East Sussex are not available.
	Table 2 provides data on the number of defendants proceeded against and convicted for all rape offences for England and Wales and Sussex. Data for East Sussex and Eastbourne are not available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences of rape recorded in England and Wales, Sussex and the Eastbourne Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area 
			  Financial year  England and Wales  Sussex  Eastbourne 
			 2004-05 14,013 458 52 
			 2005-06 14,443 424 37 
			 2006-07 13,774 440 37 
			 2007-08 12,639 309 38 
			 2008-09 13,133 370 37 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for rape and attempted rape offences, Sussex police force area and England and Wales, 2003 to 2007( 1, 2) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			   Proceed against  Found guilty  Proceed against  Found guilty  Proceed against  Found guilty  Proceed against  Found guilty  Proceed against  Found guilty 
			 Sussex police force area 41 18 54 13 65 12 58 13 43 26 
			 England and Wales 2,790 673 2,689 751 2,826 796 2,567 863 2,363 873 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Security Guards: Licensing

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made to the Security Industry Authority about its licence application processing times in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: The SIA have recorded the subject of complaints received since August 2008. Since then 35 formal complaints related to licence application processing times have been made to the Security Industry Authority.

Security Industry Authority

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contractors have had their security credentials revoked by the Security Industry Authority in the last five years.

Alan Johnson: Since the approved contractor scheme was introduced in March 2006, in total 22 contractors have had approved contractor status withdrawn. Of these, five companies submitted fresh applications after a period of time and have been re-approved.

Security Industry Authority

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers the Security Industry Authority has to investigate reports of racist door policies at pubs and clubs operated by security staff licensed by the Authority.

Alan Johnson: The Security Industry Authority has the power to take evidence of criminal activity, including in relation to racially motivated offences, into account in considering the refusal or revocation of licences. The Authority will refuse applications or revoke licences of security staff who do not meet its 'fit and proper person' criteria.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency: National Police Improvement Agency

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of the additional £20 million in capital funding to improve the estates of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the National Police Improvement Agency brought forward from 2010-11 to 2009-10 and 2008-09 on  (a) installation and development of high technology systems,  (b) enhanced intelligence gathering and  (c) the redeployment of posts out of London as part of the Lyons relocation policy; and how much of the funding has been spent in each month since it was announced.

Alan Campbell: The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) has £10 million of capital funding advanced from 2010-11 to 2009-10. This expenditure is not expected to impact directly on the development of high technology systems, or enhanced intelligence gathering. It is not linked to the redeployment of posts out of London.
	This funding will enable an acceleration of planned improvements to office, classroom and other facilities at the NPIA site at Ryton-on-Dunsmore in the West Midlands. This is a multi-function site providing specialist training and operational support to the police service and security agencies.
	Work is scheduled to take place in second half of the 2009-10. No spending has occurred to date.
	Early availability of capital funds has enabled investment in the Serious Organised Crime Agency's (SOCA) physical infrastructure and technical capability. Preparatory work has started on the capital projects that had previously been scheduled for 2010-11. Long lead-in times for delivering these investments mean that the impact will not be felt until 2010-11 and beyond.
	SOCA's capital budget for 2009-10 included expenditure and delivery of technology to support both SOCA's High Volume Operating Model and the collection and analysis of a wide range of information.
	SOCA has contributed to the Lyons targets for relocating posts out of London by the integration of some sites. This will be enhanced by the relocation of 130 posts from London to the north-west in 2010-11.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Northern Ireland

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Serious and Organised Crime Agency staff based in Northern Ireland have received performance-related bonuses; and what the total amount of such bonuses has been.

Alan Campbell: To date, no staff based in Northern Ireland have received performance-related bonuses.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Northern Ireland

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in Northern Ireland was in 2008-09.

Alan Campbell: The Serious Organised Crime Agency's budget is not managed on a geographic basis and so it is not possible to determine what the cost of SOCA in Northern Ireland was in 2008-09.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Northern Ireland

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the Asset Recovery Agency cases based in Northern Ireland were taken up by the Serious Organised Crime Agency; and how many have resulted in  (a) prosecutions and  (b) seizure of assets.

Alan Campbell: The Serious Organised Crime Agency is a UK-wide agency and does not collate statistics on a regional basis, as many crimes, by their nature, do not respect regional boundaries.
	All of the Assets Recovery Agency's cases were transferred to SOCA when the two agencies merged. Asset recovery investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act's criminal confiscation, civil and tax recovery provisions cannot lead directly to prosecution. In 2008-09 (having gained civil recovery and tax powers in April 2008), SOCA enforced civil recovery orders and tax assessments and collected £16.7 million.

Social Workers: Visas

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many qualified social workers have been refused an initial visa or visa extension under Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the points-based system since it was introduced; and how many of these applicants applied to work with children and families.

Phil Woolas: The information is not centrally recorded and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Territorial Waters

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Border Agency vessels operate a continuous patrol of the British coastline.

Alan Johnson: The UK Border Agency's Maritime capabilities are deployed to provide operational coverage for 365 days a year, on a permanent patrol of the UK coast. Operations are conducted on a risk and intelligence-led basis.

Terrorism: Afghanistan

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of British military involvement in Afghanistan on levels of violent extremism in the UK.

David Hanson: holding answer 16 July 2009
	It is in our national interest that Afghanistan becomes a stable and secure state able to deal with violent extremism within its borders and to prevent the export of terrorism abroad. We are fully committed to supporting a legitimate and democratic Afghan Government as they seek to build a peaceful and resilient nation, shaped by the will of the Afghan people.
	I recognise that individual reactions to UK foreign policies, such as military involvement overseas can be a factor in radicalisation, and that violent extremists exploit this when recruiting others to their cause. But we also know that radicalisation occurs for a wide range of complex and personal reasons. The aim of the Government will continue to be to prevent radicalisation at home and abroad.

Wildlife: Crime

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the policing of wildlife crime cost in each police force area in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: Each force sets their own priorities having made an assessment on the issues of most importance locally. As such forces where wildlife crime is an issue will be likely to provide greater resources for tackling it. However, the Home Office does not collect data on the amount each force has spent policing wildlife crime.